Albania national football team
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| Nickname | Los Albaniardos | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Association | Football Association of Albania | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Head coach |  Otto Barić, 2006- |
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| Most caps | Foto Strakosha (73) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Top scorer | Alban Bushi (14) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FIFA code | ALB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FIFA ranking | 86 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Highest FIFA ranking | 62 (August 2006) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lowest FIFA ranking | 124 (August 1997) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Elo ranking | 88 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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First international Albania 2 - 3 Yugoslavia  (Tirana, Albania; October 7, 1946) |
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Largest win Albania 5 - 0 Vietnam  (Norcia, Italy; February 12, 2003) |
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Worst defeat Hungary 12 - 0 Albania (Tirana, Albania; September 24, 1950) |
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The Albania national football team is the national football team of Albania and is controlled by the Football Association of Albania. It has never advanced to the finals of any major international competition.
Although long considered one of the weakest footballing sides in Europe, Albania have occasionally managed to hold their own against more illustrious opponents. In the 1968 European Championship qualifiers, they managed a 0-0 draw against West Germany, which eventually eliminated West Germany from qualification as Yugoslavia could beat its neighbour twice. During that era, Albania boasted arguably its greatest ever footballer, Panajot Pano.
It wasn't until the 1986 World Cup qualifiers that it would achieve notable results with a 2-2 draw away to Poland and a 3-1 win over eventual semi-finalists Belgium.
The qualifiers for the 1998 World Cup saw Albania forced to play some home games on neutral venues owing to civil unrest at home. However, they were able to hold their own against Germany, losing 3-2 at home and 4-3 away in the final game. Another impressive result is a 4-1 win over Turkey. The 2004 European Championship and 2006 World Cup qualifiers have seen Albania's results improve markedly, which the latter included a 2-1 opening victory against European Champions Greece.
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[edit] Famous players
- Foto Strakosha
- Besnik Hasi
- Mehmet Dragusha
- Ervin Skela
- Altin Lala
- Igli Tare
- Lorik Cana
- Panajot Pano
- Erjon Bogdani
- Edwin Murati
[edit] Current National Team Players
- Adrian Aliaj
- Elvin Beqiri
- Erion Bogdani
- Dorian Bylykbashi
- Lorik Cana
- Debatik Curri
- Armend Dallku
- Klodian Duro
- Besnik Hasi
- Altin Haxhi
- Isli Hidi
- Edmond Kapllani
- Bekim Kastrati
- Altin Lala
- Ilion Lika
- Devi Muka
- Edwin Murati
- Tefik Osmani
- Arjan Pisha
- Hamdi Salihi
- Blendi Shkembi
- Ervin Skela
- Igli Tare
- Erion Xhafa
- Besart Berisha
[edit] World Cup record
- 1930 to 1962 - Did not enter
- 1966 - Did not qualify
- 1970 - Entry not accepted by FIFA
- 1974 - Did not qualify
- 1978 - Did not enter
- 1982 to 2006 - Did not qualify
[edit] Last Match
Netherlands - Albania / Date: 11-October-2006 / Played for: Euro 2008 Qualifiers / Score: 2-1
Venue: Amsterdam ArenA, Netherlands
Goalscorers:
Netherlands: R.Van Persie, A.Beqaj(own goal) - Albania: Debatik Curri
Crowd: Approx. 40,000
Referee: Alon Yefet (Israel)
[edit] Next Match
Albania - Slovenia -- March 24, 2007 UEFA Euro 2008 Qualifier
