Albania national football team

Albania
Nickname(s) Kuq e Zinjtë (The Red and Blacks)
Shqiponjat (The Eagles)
Association Federata Shqiptare e Futbollit (FSHF)
Confederation UEFA (Europe)
Head coach Christian Panucci
Captain Mërgim Mavraj
Most caps Lorik Cana (93)
Top scorer Erjon Bogdani (18)
Home stadium Various
FIFA code ALB
First colours
Second colours
Third colours
FIFA ranking
Current 57 Increase 1 (20 September 2018)
Highest 22 (August 2015[1])
Lowest 124 (August 1997[1])
Elo ranking
Current 68 Decrease 3 (10 September 2018)[2]
Highest 34 (13 October 1946[2])
Lowest 118 (14 & 18 December 1994[2])
First international
Unofficial
 Albania 5–0 Montenegro Socialist Republic of Montenegro
(Shkodër, Albania; 22 August 1946)
Official
 Albania 2–3 Yugoslavia 
(Tirana, Albania; 7 October 1946)[3]
Biggest win
 Albania 6–1 Cyprus 
(Tirana, Albania; 12 August 2009)[3]
Biggest defeat
 Hungary 12–0 Albania 
(Budapest, Hungary; 24 September 1950)[3]
European Championship
Appearances 1 (first in 2016)
Best result Group stage, 2016

The Albania national football team (Albanian: Kombëtarja shqiptare e futbollit) is the men's football team that has represented Albania in international competition since 1946. It is controlled by the Albanian Football Association, the governing body for football in the country.

Albania was the winner of the 1946 Balkan Cup and the 2000 Malta Rothmans International Tournament, but had never participated in any major UEFA or FIFA tournament until 2016.

At Euro 2016, Albania made its debut at a major men's football tournament. Albania scored their first ever goal in a major tournament and secured their first ever win in a European Championship, when they beat Romania on 19 June 2016.[4][5]

After its completion in 2018, the National Arena (Albanian: Arena Kombëtare) will be the home ground of the national team. Albania's highest FIFA World Ranking was 22nd in August 2015.

History

Although it never played any matches, the Albanian national football team existed before the Albanian Football Association was created in 1930. FSHF was founded on 6 June 1930, and in, Albania joined FIFA (during the congress 12 June – 16 June). Albania played its first international match against Yugoslavia in 1946 which ended in a 3–2 home defeat at Qemal Stafa Stadium. In 1946, Albania also participated for the first time in Balkan Cup in which Albania won by beating Romania 1–0 in the final. In 1954, Albania was one of the founding members of UEFA. Albania waited until 1962 to compete in a Euro Cup competition and the only time Albania was between the best 16 teams of the Continent, the reason being Albania got past the first leg as Greece, for political reasons forfeited the game.[6] At the end of the tournament Albania ranked 9th in Europe.[7][8][9]

Albania participated for the first time in a qualifying phrase of a World Cup in the qualifiers of the 1966 edition in England. The team was drawn in the Group 5 which finished in the last position with only one point from six matches. In the qualifiers of the UEFA Euro 1968 Albania had a draw 0–0 against West Germany that denied the Germans the participation to the UEFA Euro 1968 finals. In later years, Albania did not participate in the qualifiers of the World Cup 1970, UEFA Euro 1972, UEFA Euro 1976, World Cup 1978 and UEFA Euro 1980 for unknown political reasons. Again six years without playing any international match, Albania entered in the qualifiers of the World Cup 1982, and finished the group no longer last in the class, but "revenges" Finland allocating the Nordic country to get the "wooden spoon".

The qualifiers of the World Cup 1990 were probably the worst qualifier in Albania's history as there were 6 losses in as many games with no memorable matches. In the qualifiers of the World Cup 2002, Albania recorded a 2–0 win over Greece which was the only team that they beat during the qualifiers. Albania was able to make some impact in the qualifying of the UEFA Euro 2004 by beating 3–1 Russia at Loro Boriçi Stadium.[10] This match was also the debut of the German coach Hans-Peter Briegel who led Albania to an undefeated run at home matches. Albania finished the group in the penultimate spot with only eight points. In the qualifiers of the World Cup 2006 Albania recorded some historical results. Two months after Greece beat Portugal to win the European Championship, Albania defeated Greece 2–1 in a match which Albania scored goals in the 2nd and 11th minutes.[11]

Lorik Cana (left) is Albania's most capped player of all time. He captained the French Olympique de Marseille as well as the Albanian national team and Loro Boriçi (right) captained Albania in winning the 1946 Balkan Cup.

In the qualifiers of the UEFA Euro 2008 Albania won two times in both matches against Luxembourg. Albania also drew 2–2 with Belarus and 0–0 away with Bulgaria. Albania's Euro campaign ended with a loss 6–1 away to Romania which resulted in the resignation of the coach Otto Barić and his assistant.[12] On December 2007, Arie Haan was named Albania's head coach by signing a two-year contract for the qualifiers of the World Cup 2010, where Albania made a very negative performance by winning only one match. Albania won only seven points from ten matches and Haan was replaced by Josip Kuže in May 2009 following the end of the campaign.[13] However, Kuže couldn't lead Albania to the better results as the team ended the qualifiers of the UEFA Euro 2012 with only nine points from ten matches. With Kuže in charge, Albania recorded its second biggest win the history by defeating Cyprus 6–1 at home, equal with Albania's 5–0 victory over Vietnam in 2003.[14]

Josip Kuže parted ways with Albania three and a half years after he started the job, and in December 2011, Italian coach Gianni de Biasi replaced him.[15] Albania started the qualifiers and was, at one point, 2nd in group with six matches played, and four in hand, but failed to be successful in the last four, losing away in Slovenia and Iceland, as well as at home against Switzerland, and drawing in Cyprus.[16] Albania started the qualifiers of the UEFA Euro 2016 with an emphatic 1–0 away win against Portugal,[17] which was followed by a 1–1 draw against Denmark at the newly renovated stadium Elbasan Arena.[18] After beating Armenia 3–0 in the last qualifying match, Albania made history by qualifying for the UEFA Euro 2016, its first ever appearance at a major men's football tournament.[19]

Competitive record

FIFA World Cup

FIFA World Cup record Qualifications record
Year Round Pos Pld W D L GF GA Squad Year Pos Pld W D L GF GA
Uruguay 1930 to Chile 1962 Did not participate —
England 1966 Did not qualify England 1966 4th6015212
Mexico 1970 Entry not accepted[20] —
West Germany 1974 Did not qualify West Germany 1974 4th6105313
Argentina 1978 Did not participate —
Spain 1982 Did not qualify Spain 1982 4th8107422
Mexico 1986 Mexico 1986 3rd612369
Italy 1990 Italy 1990 4th6006315
United States 1994 United States 1994 7th12129626
France 1998 France 1998 6th10118720
South KoreaJapan 2002 South KoreaJapan 2002 5th8107514
Germany 2006 Germany 2006 5th124171120
South Africa 2010 South Africa 2010 5th10145613
Brazil 2014 Brazil 2014 5th10325911
Russia 2018 Russia 2018 3rd104151013
Qatar 2022 To be determined To be determined
CanadaMexicoUnited States 2026
Total — 0/23 0 0 0 0 0 0 — Total 12/22 104 18 14 72 72 188

UEFA European Championship

UEFA European Championship record Qualifications record
Year Round Pos Pld W D L GF GA Squad Year Pos Pld W D L GF GA
France 1960 Did not participate —
Spain 1964 Did not qualify Spain 1964 1Q430174
Italy 1968 Italy 1968 3rd4013012
Belgium 1972 Belgium 1972 4th611459
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia 1976 Did not participate —
Italy 1980 —
France 1984 Did not qualify France 1984 5th8026414
West Germany 1988 West Germany 1988 4th6006217
Sweden 1992 Sweden 1992 5th7106221
England 1996 England 1996 5th102261016
BelgiumNetherlands 2000 BelgiumNetherlands 2000 5th10145814
Portugal 2004 Portugal 2004 4th82241115
AustriaSwitzerland 2008 AustriaSwitzerland 2008 5th122551218
PolandUkraine 2012 PolandUkraine 2012 5th10235714
France 2016 Group stage18th310213Squad France 2016 2nd8422105
Europe 2020 To be determined To be determined
Germany 2024
Total Best: Group stage 1/17 3 1 0 2 1 3 — Total 13/17 93 18 22 53 78 159

UEFA European Championship record

Albania's European Championship record
First match Albania  0–1   Switzerland
(Stade Bollaert-Delelis, Lens, France; 11 June 2016)
Biggest win Romania  0–1  Albania
(Parc Olympique Lyonnais, Lyon, France; 19 June 2016)
Biggest defeat France  2–0  Albania
(Stade Vélodrome, Marseille, France; 15 June 2016)
Best result Group stage at the UEFA Euro 2016
Worst result

UEFA Nations League

UEFA Nations League record
Season Division Group Round Pos Pld W D L GF GA P/R
2018–19 C 1 Group stage3rd210112N/A
Total — 1/1 2 1 0 1 1 2 —

Fixtures and results

2017

2018

Players

Current squad

The following players have been called up for the friendly match against Jordan and 2018–19 UEFA Nations League match against Israel, on 10 and 14 October 2018.[21]
All caps and goals as of 10 October 2018 after match against Jordan.[22]

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Etrit Berisha (1989-03-10) 10 March 1989 51 0 Italy Atalanta
12 1GK Thomas Strakosha (1995-03-19) 19 March 1995 7 0 Italy Lazio
23 1GK Elhan Kastrati (1997-02-02) 2 February 1997 0 0 Italy Pescara
15 2DF Mërgim Mavraj (Captain) (1986-06-09) 9 June 1986 45 3 Greece Aris Thessaloniki
4 2DF Elseid Hysaj (1994-02-20) 20 February 1994 42 0 Italy Napoli
6 2DF Berat Gjimshiti (1993-02-19) 19 February 1993 19 1 Italy Atalanta
3 2DF Ermir Lenjani (1989-08-05) 5 August 1989 28 3 Switzerland Sion
17 2DF Egzon Binaku (1995-08-27) 27 August 1995 3 0 Sweden Malmö
— 2DF Herdi Prenga (1994-08-31) 31 August 1994 2 0 Croatia Inter Zaprešić
18 2DF Enea Mihaj (1998-07-05) 5 July 1998 2 0 Greece Panetolikos
22 2DF Kastriot Dermaku (1992-01-15) 15 January 1992 1 0 Italy Cosenza
2 3MF Andi Lila (1986-02-12) 12 February 1986 69 0 Greece PAS Giannina
— 3MF Ledian Memushaj (1986-12-07) 7 December 1986 31 1 Italy Pescara
8 3MF Migjen Basha (1987-01-05) 5 January 1987 30 3 Greece Aris Thessaloniki
14 3MF Taulant Xhaka (1991-03-28) 28 March 1991 24 1 Switzerland Basel
— 3MF Sabien Lilaj (1989-02-10) 10 February 1989 17 0 Azerbaijan Gabala
7 3MF Eros Grezda (1995-04-15) 15 April 1995 8 1 Scotland Rangers
16 3MF Emanuele Ndoj (1996-11-20) 20 November 1996 4 1 Italy Brescia
21 3MF Enis Gavazaj (1995-03-21) 21 March 1995 3 0 Russia Yenisey Krasnoyarsk
19 4FW Bekim Balaj (1991-01-11) 11 January 1991 27 4 Russia Akhmat Grozny
10 4FW Rey Manaj (1997-02-24) 24 February 1997 7 1 Spain Albacete
9 4FW Myrto Uzuni (1995-05-31) 31 May 1995 1 0 Croatia Lokomotiva
13 4FW Egli Kaja (1997-07-26) 26 July 1997 0 0 Scotland Livingston
11 4FW Giacomo Vrioni (1998-10-15) 15 October 1998 0 0 Italy Venezia

Recent call-ups

The following players have also been called up for the team within the last 12 months and are still available for selection.

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Alban Hoxha (1987-11-23) 23 November 1987 3 0 Albania Partizani Tirana v.  Israel, 14 October 2018INJ
GK Gentian Selmani (1998-03-09) 9 March 1998 0 0 Albania Laçi v.  Ukraine, 3 June 2018U21
DF Iván Balliu (1992-01-01) 1 January 1992 1 0 France Metz v.  Israel, 14 October 2018
DF Freddie Veseli (1992-11-20) 20 November 1992 16 0 Italy Empoli v.  Jordan, 10 October 2018INJ
DF Ansi Agolli (1982-11-11) 11 November 1982 73 3 Azerbaijan Qarabağ v.  Scotland, 10 September 2018
DF Besir Demiri (1994-08-01) 1 August 1994 0 0 Ukraine Mariupol v.  Israel, 7 September 2018
DF Arlind Ajeti (1993-09-25) 25 September 1993 20 1 Switzerland Grasshoppers v.  Ukraine, 3 June 2018
DF Hysen Memolla (1992-07-03) 3 July 1992 3 0 Croatia Hajduk Split v.  Ukraine, 3 June 2018
DF Naser Aliji (1993-12-27) 27 December 1993 12 0 Unattached v.  Norway, 26 March 2018
MF Ylber Ramadani (1996-04-12) 12 April 1996 4 0 Denmark Vejle v.  Jordan, 10 October 2018INJ
MF Jahmir Hyka (1988-03-08) 8 March 1988 47 2 United States San Jose Earthquakes v.  Scotland, 10 September 2018
MF Ergys Kaçe (1993-07-08) 8 July 1993 21 2 Greece Panathinaikos v.  Scotland, 10 September 2018
MF Bujar Lika (1992-08-11) 11 August 1992 2 0 Switzerland Grasshoppers v.  Scotland, 10 September 2018
MF Odise Roshi (1991-05-21) 21 May 1991 50 4 Russia Akhmat Grozny v.  Ukraine, 3 June 2018INJ
MF Kamer Qaka (1995-04-11) 11 April 1995 4 0 Romania Politehnica Iași v.  Ukraine, 3 June 2018
MF Kristal Abazaj (1996-07-06) 6 July 1996 1 0 Belgium Anderlecht v.  Ukraine, 3 June 2018U21
MF Armando Vajushi (1991-12-03) 3 December 1991 6 1 Unattached v.  Kosovo, 29 May 2018INJ
MF Liridon Latifi (1994-02-06) 6 February 1994 5 0 Hungary Puskás Akadémia v.  Norway, 26 March 2018
MF Keidi Bare (1997-08-28) 28 August 1997 1 0 Spain Atlético Malagueño v.  Norway, 26 March 2018
MF Valon Ahmedi (1994-10-07) 7 October 1994 2 0 Israel Hapoel Ironi Kiryat Shmona v.  Turkey, 13 November 2017
MF Astrit Ajdarević (1990-04-17) 17 April 1990 1 0 Greece AEK Athens v.  Turkey, 13 November 2017
MF Amir Abrashi (1990-03-27) 27 March 1990 27 0 Germany SC Freiburg v.  Turkey, 13 November 2017INJ
FW Sindrit Guri (1993-10-23) 23 October 1993 2 0 Belgium Oostende v.  Scotland, 10 September 2018
FW Sokol Cikalleshi (1990-07-27) 27 July 1990 28 2 Turkey Göztepe v.  Ukraine, 3 June 2018
FW Armando Sadiku (1991-05-27) 27 May 1991 33 11 Spain Levante v.  Norway, 26 March 2018
FW Azdren Llullaku (1988-02-15) 15 February 1988 6 0 Romania Astra Giurgiu v.  Turkey, 13 November 2017
Notes
  • INJ = Not part of the current squad due to injury.
  • U21 = Was engaged also with U21 squad.

Personnel

Christian Panucci, the current manager of the Albania national football team.

Current technical staff

Position Name
Head coach Italy Christian Panucci
Assistant coach(es)
Italy Marco Cassetti
Albania Ervin Bulku
Athletic coach Italy Alessandro Ciullini
Goalkeeping coach Albania Ilir Bozhiqi
Physiotherapist Albania Ylli Mihali
Doctor Italy Gianluca Stesina
Masseur Albania Arzen Voci
Material base Albania Fatos Kademi
Osteopat Italy Filippo Iori
Video analyst Italy Marco Rossi

Stadiums

In November 2013, Qemal Stafa Stadium was shut down by FIFA for not fulfilling international standards.[23] Due to Albania being undeveloped and having very poor infrastructure, not a single stadium in Albania fulfills FIFA standards for international competitions. As a result, the Albanian government is upgrading Ruzhdi Bizhuta stadium of Elbasan named Elbasan Arena in time for the Euro 2016 qualifiers beginning in September 2014, and Loro Boriçi Stadium in Shkodër in time for the October 2015 Euro Qualifier against Serbia.[24]

Albania national football team home stadiums
Nr. of
matches		 Image Stadium Capacity Location First match Last match Ref
131 Qemal Stafa Stadium 25,000 Tirana, Albania v.  Yugoslavia, 7 October 1946 v.  Georgia, 16 November 2015 [25]
10 Elbasan Arena 13,800 Elbasan, Albania v.  Denmark, 11 October 2014 v.  Israel, 7 September 2018 [26]
8 Loro Boriçi Stadium 20,200 Shkodër, Albania v.  Russia, 29 March 2003 v.  Italy, 9 October 2017 [27]
6 Niko Dovana Stadium 12,040 Durrës, Albania v.  Uzbekistan, 11 August 2010 v.  Malta, 5 March 2014 [28]
1 Tomori Stadium 14,090 Berat, Albania v.  Cuba, 6 August 1988 [29]
Flamurtari Stadium 10,500 Vlorë, Albania v.  Romania, 28 October 1987 [30]

National Arena

National Arena (Albanian: Arena Kombëtare) is an under-construction all-seater football stadium in Tirana, the capital of Albania.[31] This planned stadium will be the new home of Albania national football team and it will serve as a venue for major football club cup finals and other sports and non-sports related activities.

The stadium was designed with a capacity of 22,500 spectators, making it the first-highest capacity stadium for football in Albania. Ever since an initial stadium proposal in 2010, Albanian Football Association has had two additional stadium proposals that failed to be built. The stadium is planned to be completed by June 2018, Albania national football team began playing in September of the same year. The stadium will be built on the same site of Qemal Stafa, demolished in June 2016.[32]

The old Qemal Stafa was closed for demolition in June 2016, and the site will be redeveloped with a new larger-capacity National Arena. The final design of the new stadium was done by Marco Cassamonti of Archea Associati,[33] and the construction is scheduled to be finished in 2018. It is expected to cost around €60 million[34]

Individual all-time records

Stamps of Albania in 2006. The 60th Anniversary of Victory at the Balkan Cup.

Below are two lists of the top 10 players with the most caps and goals for Albania.

As of 13 November 2017.[35]
  Players that are still active
  Part of the squad that won the 1946 Balkan Cup [36]
  Part of the squad that won the 2000 Rothmans International Tournament [37]

Appearances records

Lorik Cana is the most capped player in the history of Albania with 93 caps.
Panajot Pano was selected between 52 UEFA Golden Players and was rated by the Football Association of Albania as the most outstanding player of the past 50 years.
Rank Position Name Career Caps Goals
1 DF
Lorik Cana
 2003–2016 93 1
2 MF
Altin Lala
 1998–2011 79 3
3 MF
Klodian Duro
 2001–2011 77 6
4
MF
Ervin Skela
 2000–2011 75 13
5 FW
Erjon Bogdani
 1996–2013 74 18
6 GK
Foto Strakosha
 1990–2004 73 0
DF
Ansi Agolli
 2005– 73 3
8 MF
Altin Haxhi
 1995–2009 68 3
FW
Igli Tare
 1997–2007 68 10
10 FW
Alban Bushi
 1995–2007 67 14
MF
Andi Lila
 2007– 67 0

Top goalscorers

Hamdi Salihi is the fourth-top goalscorer in the history of Albania with 11 goals.
Rank Position Name Career Goals Caps
1 FW
Erjon Bogdani
 1996–2013 18 74
2 FW
Alban Bushi
 1995–2007 14 67
3 MF
Ervin Skela
 2000–2011 13 75
4 FW
Altin Rraklli
 1992–2005 11 63
FW
Hamdi Salihi
 2006–2015 11 50
FW
Armando Sadiku
 2012– 11 32
7 FW
Sokol Kushta
 1987–1996 10 31
FW
Igli Tare
 1997–2007 10 68
9 DF
Adrian Aliaj
 2002–2006 8 29
10
FW
Loro Boriçi
 1946–1958 6 24
FW
Qamil Teliti
 1946–1952 6 13
MF
Bledar Kola
 1994–2002 6 39
MF
Klodian Duro
 2000–2011 6 77
FW
Edmond Kapllani
 2004–2014 6 41

Captains

List of captaincy periods of the various captains throughout the years.[38]

Honours

Stamps of Albania, 2007. 60th Anniversary of Victory at the Balkan Cup

Supporters

Tifozat Kuq e Zi (English: Red and Black Fans, also known as the Albania National Football Team Supporters Club) is a non-profit football supporters' association for the Albania national football team and various national team sportive activities. It was founded on 25 December 2003. In cooperation with FSHF, it organises trips for football fans to visit games, and develops and sells merchandise to support itself and fund sporting related projects.

Tifozat Kuq e Zi stands firm in the political view that Albanians should share only one national team and have continuous aspirations to join in one state (Një Komb, Një Kombëtare), i.e. unification of Albania, Kosovo, etc. In this sense, TKZ is joined by different supporters' associations throughout Albanian-speaking regions mainly in Kosovo (Shqiponjat of Peja, Kuqezinjet e Jakoves of Gjakova, Plisat of Pristina, Torcida of Mitrovica, etc.), Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (Ballistët of Tetovo, Ilirët of Kumanovo, Shvercerat of Skopje, etc.) and in Albania itself (Ultras Guerrils of Partizani Tirana, Tirona Fanatics of KF Tirana, Vllaznit Ultras of Vllaznia Shkodër, Ujqërit e Deborës (English: Snow Wolves) Skënderbeu Korçë, Shqiponjat of KF Besa Pejë and many other different Albanian fans).

The ongoing dispute between the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports and the Football Association of Albania has been seen as a political intrusion by FIFA and UEFA, which led to the banning of Albania from international sportive activities. FSHF president Armand Duka is highly unwanted by the TKZ who have numerously asked for his resignation believing he is responsible for internal corruption in the Albanian Football Association.

The TKZ have been praised by many different football players and managers, whom were not just Albanian. Switzerland's former coach, Ottmar Hitzfeld was astonished by how many Albanian fans turned up and how enthusiastic they were in 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA) between Switzerland and Albania where the Swiss won 2–0 thanks to goals from Gökhan Inler and Kosovo-born Xherdan Shaqiri. He didn't believe that there was 12,000 Albanian fans in the stands which was more than how many Swiss fans turned up for the game. He stated Albanian fans are fantastic and the most passionate fans I have ever seen.[40] During that campaign, TKZ attended all games Albania played apart from a match against Cyprus in Nicosia and were also large in numbers in the away games to Slovenia where they lost 1–0 and Norway where they won 1–0 thanks to a stunning goal by Hamdi Salihi.

Media coverage

Albania's qualifying matches and friendlies are currently televised by RTSH and SuperSport Albania, a trademark of Digitalb.

Head-to-Head records against other countries

As of 13 November 2017
  1. ↑ The Serbia v Albania match was abandoned with the score at 0–0 shortly before halftime after "various incidents", which resulted in the Albania players refusing to return to the field. UEFA ruled that Albania had forfeited the match and awarded a 3–0 win to Serbia, but also deducted three points from Serbia for their involvement in the events. Serbia must also play their next two home qualifying games behind closed doors, and both the Serbian and Albanian FAs were fined €100,000.[42] Both the Serbian and Albanian football associations were looking to have the decision revisited,[43][44] but the decision was upheld by UEFA.[45] Both associations then filed further appeals to the Court of Arbitration for Sport,[46] and on 10 July 2015 the Court of Arbitration for Sport rejected the appeal filed by the Serbian FA, and upholds in part the appeal filed by the Albanian FA, meaning the match is deemed to have been forfeited by Serbia with 0–3 and they are still deducted three points.[47] Serbian FA announced appeal at the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland.[48]

Memorable victories

As of 7 September 2018[49]
Date Tournament Place Opponents Score Additional Notes
22 September 1946 Friendly Shkodër, Albania Socialist Republic of Montenegro Montenegro 5 – 0 FIFA unofficial. Largest ever victory (without conceding)
9 October 1946 Balkan Cup in Albania Tirana, Albania  Bulgaria 3 – 1
13 October 1946 Balkan Cup in Albania Tirana, Albania  Romania 1 – 0
2 May 1948 Balkan Cup in Romania Bucharest, Romania  Romania 1 – 0
29 November 1952 Friendly Tirana, Albania  Czechoslovakia 3 – 2
30 October 1963 1964 European Nations' Cup qualifying Tirana, Albania  Denmark 1 – 0
9 December 1952 Friendly Tirana, Albania  Czechoslovakia 2 – 1
29 November 1953 Friendly Tirana, Albania  Poland 2 – 0
14 November 1971 UEFA Euro 1972 qualifying Tirana, Albania  Turkey 3 – 0
10 October 1976 Friendly Tirana, Albania  Algeria 3 – 0
22 December 1984 1986 FIFA World Cup qualification Tirana, Albania  Belgium 2 – 0
14 February 1993 Friendly Tirana, Albania Albania Kosovo 3 – 1 Unofficial first international for Kosovo was hosted by Albania.
30 November 1995 Friendly Tirana, Albania Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina 2 – 0 First FIFA international for Bosnia-Herzegovina was hosted by Albania[50]
10 September 1997 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification Zürich, Switzerland  Northern Ireland 1 – 0
21 January 1998 Friendly Ankara, Turkey  Turkey 4 – 1
11 October 2000 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification Tirana, Albania  Greece 2 – 0
25 April 2001 Friendly Gaziantep, Turkey  Turkey 2 – 0
29 March 2003 UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying Shkodër, Albania  Russia 3 – 1
18 February 2004 Friendly Tirana, Albania  Sweden 2 – 1
4 September 2004 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification Tirana, Albania  Greece 2 – 1 Victory over top 15 ranked team at the time (14th)[51]
and current UEFA Euro 2004 champion.
12 August 2009 Friendly Tirana, Albania  Cyprus 6 – 1 Largest ever victory
17 February 2010 Friendly Pristina, Kosovo  Kosovo 3 – 2 Unofficial international.
22 March 2013 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification Oslo, Norway  Norway 1 – 0
7 September 2014 UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying Aveiro, Portugal  Portugal 1 – 0 Victory over top 15 ranked team at the time (11th)[52]
14 October 2014 UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying Belgrade, Serbia  Serbia 3 – 0 Awarded victory as Serbia forfeited by Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling.
13 June 2015 Friendly Elbasan, Albania  France 1 – 0 Victory over top 15 ranked team at the time (9th)[53]
and the hosts also of the UEFA Euro 2016, tournament of the time.
11 October 2015 UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying Yerevan, Armenia  Armenia 3 – 0 Qualified to UEFA Euro 2016; first senior final tournament.
19 June 2016 UEFA Euro 2016 Lyon, France  Romania 1 – 0 First ever win in a senior final tournament.
7 September 2018 2018–19 UEFA Nations League Elbasan, Albania  Israel 1 – 0 First ever win in UEFA Nations League.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 FIFAAlbania. "Albania in FIFA website". FIFA. Retrieved 16 August 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 Kirill. "Eloratings.net". World Football Elo Ratings. Archived from the original on 20 August 2010. Retrieved 16 August 2010.
  3. 1 2 3 Kirill (16 August 2010). "Albania matches". Kirill. Archived from the original on 20 August 2010. Retrieved 16 August 2010.
  4. ↑ "Euro 2016: Albania 0–1 Romania – Armando Sadiku scores the only goal to seal his country's first ever win at a major competition". telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  5. ↑ "Romania 0–1 Albania – Sadiku scores landmark goal to provide last 16 hope". mirror.co.uk. 19 June 2016. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  6. ↑ Besnik Dizdari (2007). "Ballkaniada 1946: Shqipëria – kampione e Ballkanit ne startin e "Luftës së ftohtë" në Evropë" (in Albanian). Rozafat. pp. 2–10. ISBN 978-99943-979-0-7. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  7. 1 2 Armillotta, Giovanni (14 October 2015). "Shqipëria në fazën finale? Nuk është hera e parë!". Panorama-Sport. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  8. 1 2 UEFA. "Victories of Albania until Euro2016 qualifiers". Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  9. ↑ Besnik Dizdari (15 October 2015). "Dr. Armillotta ka të drejtë" (in Albanian). Panorama-Sport. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  10. ↑ "Flying start for Briegel". UEFA.com. 30 March 2003. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  11. ↑ "Albania eclipse European champions". UEFA.com. 5 September 2004. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  12. ↑ "Baric: Po largohem" (in Albanian). FSHF.org. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  13. ↑ "Televizioni Koha – JOSIP KUZHE TRAJNER I SHQIPËRISË – Sport" (in Albanian). Televizioni Koha. Archived from the original on 19 June 2015. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  14. ↑ "Më në fund, shpërthen Shqipëria, fiton 6 me 1 kunder Qipros" (in Albanian). Yllpress.com. 13 October 2009. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  15. ↑ "Kush është trajneri i ri i Kombëtares shqiptare" (in Albanian). Panorama.al. 14 December 2011. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  16. ↑ Besnik Dizdari (4 April 2015). ""Revolucioni" i Kombëtares, atdhetaria dhe "pseudoatdhetaria"" (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
  17. ↑ ""Bekim" kuqezi në Aveiro, Shqipëria shokon Portugalinë" (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 7 September 2014. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
  18. ↑ ""Flirtuam" me fitoren, por bashkëkryesojmë me Danimarkën" (in Albanian). Albdreams.net. 11 October 2014. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  19. ↑ "Jubilant Albania defy the odds to reach a maiden European Championship". Daily Mail. 11 October 2015. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
  20. ↑ "History of the FIFA World Cup Preliminary Competition (by year)" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Retrieved 13 December 2011.
  21. ↑ "Kombëtarja/Trajneri Christian Panucci shpall listën e lojtarëve për miqësoren me Jordaninë dhe ndeshjen eleminatore zyrtare me Izraelin" [National team/Coach Cristian Panucci announces the list of players for friendly with Jordan and official eliminatory match with Israel] (in Albanian). Albanian Football Association. 2 October 2018.
  22. ↑ "Albania (0–0) Jordan". eu-football.info. 10 October 2018.
  23. ↑ "Sport.albeu.com – UEFA "djeg" edhe "Ruzhdi Bizhutën" e "Niko Dovanën"". Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  24. ↑ "Zbardhet projekti, ja si do jetë "Ruzhdi Bizhuta"". Panorama Sport. Archived from the original on 16 October 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  25. ↑ "Stadiumi Kombëtar Qemal Stafa, Tiranë". EU-football.
  26. ↑ "Elbasan Arena, Elbasan". EU-football.
  27. ↑ "Loro Boriçi Stadium, Shkodër". EU-football.
  28. ↑ "Stadiumi Niko Dovana, Durrës". EU-football.
  29. ↑ "Stadiumi Tomori, Berat". EU-football.
  30. ↑ "Stadiumi Flamurtari, Vlorë". EU-football.
  31. ↑ "Prezantohet "Arena Kombëtare"" (in Albanian). Radio Televizioni Shqiptar. 21 April 2016.
  32. ↑ "Fillon zyrtarisht prishja e stadiumit Qemal Stafa" (in Albanian). Radio Televizioni Shqiptar. 9 June 2016.
  33. ↑ "Vendim KKT". National Territorial Planning Agency (Albania). Archived from the original on 16 August 2016. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  34. ↑ "Firmoset marrëveshja për ndërtimin e stadiumit "Arena Kombëtare"" (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 21 April 2016.
  35. ↑ Albania international footballers of all-time at EU-Football.info – National football teams of Europe
  36. ↑ Albania national football team statistics and records: appearances - 1946* - Balkan Cup 11v11.com
  37. ↑ Albania won Rothmans Football International Tournament 2000: a few words by Florent Hoxha Giovanni Armillotta on line
  38. ↑ Albania national football team match results at EU-football.info
  39. ↑ "Rothmans Tournament 2000 match reports". Rothmans Tournament 2000 match reports. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  40. ↑ Hitzfeld: Tifozët shqiptarë janë fantastikë – Sport plus Bota Sot
  41. ↑ Dizdari, Besnik (15 October 2015). "Dr. Armillotta ka të drejtë". Panorama-Sport. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  42. ↑ "Serbia and Albania disciplinary decision". UEFA. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  43. ↑ AFP (25 October 2014). "Albania to appeal UEFA punishment over Serbia fracas". Business Insider. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
  44. ↑ "Serbia to appeal Uefa decision". Goal.com. 24 October 2014.
  45. ↑ "Decisions upheld for Serbia-Albania match". UEFA.com. 2 December 2014.
  46. ↑ "The football associations of Albania and Serbia file appeals at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS)" (PDF). tas-cas.org. Court of Arbitration for Sport. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  47. ↑ "FOOTBALL: The CAS rejects the appeal filed by the Serbian FA, upholds in part the appeal filed by the Albanian FA: the match Serbia-Albania is deemed to have been forfeited by Serbia (0–3)". Tribunal Arbitral du Sport / Court of Arbitration for Sport. 10 July 2015. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  48. ↑ "Fudbalski savez Srbije – zvanična web prezentacija". fss.rs.
  49. ↑ "Albania matches, ratings and points exchanged". World Football Elo Ratings.
  50. ↑ Jonathan Wilson (1 May 2014). "Despite its inescapable past, Bosnia-Herzegovina writes new chapter". sportsillustrated.cnn.com.
  51. ↑ "FIFA Men's Ranking 1 September 2004". FIFA.com. 2004.
  52. ↑ "FIFA Men's Ranking 14 August 2014". FIFA.com. 2015.
  53. ↑ "FIFA Men's Ranking 4 June 2015". FIFA.com. 2015.
  • Albanian Federation football site
  • Albania at UEFA.com
  • Tifozat Kuq e Zi / Red and Black Fan Club
  • Official RSSSF Site Covering the History of Albanian Football from 1913 until the Present
  • Sauku, Endrit (21 January 2010). "History of the Qemal Stafa Temple". Albania Sport (in Albanian). Dash Frasheri. Archived from the original on 10 April 2010. Retrieved 3 August 2010.
  • Worldstadiums. "Stadia in Albania". Retrieved 3 August 2010.
  • RSSSF – Albania men's national football team international matches (in English)
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