Albania women's national football team

Albania
Nickname(s) Kuq e Zinjtë
(Red and Blacks)
Association Federata Shqiptare e Futbollit
Confederation UEFA (Europe)
Head coach Altin Rraklli
Asst coach Ilir Sopi
Captain Aurora Seranaj
Most caps Pellumbesha Gjyli (6)
Top scorer Suada Jashari (4)
Home stadium Qemal Stafa
FIFA code ALB
FIFA ranking 78 Decrease3[1]
Highest FIFA ranking 59 (December 2013)
Lowest FIFA ranking 136 (December 2011)
First colours
Second colours
First international
 Albania 1–0 Macedonia 
(Pogradec, Albania; May 5, 2011)[2]
Biggest win
 Macedonia 1–4 Albania 
(Struga, Macedonia; November 10, 2011)[2]
Biggest defeat
 Albania 0–11 Norway 
(Durrës, Albania; September 13, 2014)

The Albania women's national football team represents Albania in international women's football and is governed by Albanian Football Association (FSHF)

History

The Albanian women's national football team was formed in 2011 and made their debut in a friendly against Macedonia FYR on May 5, 2011 at the Gjorgji Kyçyku Stadium. The match ended 1-0 with Albania's first win and midfielder Aurora Seranaj scoring the first goal for Albania.[3] Towards the end of 2011, the national team strengthened its squad with the arrival of football players from the Albanian diaspora communities, notably Furtuna Velaj, Dafina Memedov, Ellvana Curo, Elizabeta Ejupi, Arjeta Krasniqi and Arbnora Robelli. The national team ended the year with their second win against Macedonia FYR away in Struga. [4] The second victory against Macedonia FYR is currently the national team's biggest win.

On the 15 May 2012, Albania faced Montenegro in Bar and won 2-4. [5] Three days later, the Albanian won again with a rematch against Montenegro, winning 4-3 at the Loro Boriçi Stadium in Shkodër. [6] On the 22nd of May, Albania encountered Macedonia FYR again, this time with a 2-0 win with 2 goals from Suada Jashari. [7] The national team had so far been undefeated in 5 games, 15 goals scored, and 6 goals conceded. On the 29th of August, The Albanian national team participated in an unofficial football tournament held in Drama. The national team drew 1-1 with Amazons Drama[8] and lost 0-3 to Greece.[9]

On the 18 December 2012, it was announced that Albania would be in a group with Malta, Luxembourg and Latvia in the preliminary round of the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification.[10] This was the first time Albania entered a senior competitive tournament. Albania secured a top-two finish on the final day of 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup preliminary round mini-tournament to earn a slot in the qualifying group stage. Albania are still unbeaten after seven senior internationals, all but one of those wins.[11] On 21 September 2013, Albania officially succumbed to their first lost against Belgium in the World Cup Qualifying group stage.

Results

Date Opposition Result Score Competition
September 21, 2013 BelgiumL0–22015 WWC Q. G5
September 26, 2013 NetherlandsL0–42015 WWC Q. G5
October 26, 2013 NorwayL0–72015 WWC Q. G5
October 30, 2013 GreeceW1–02015 WWC Q. G5
February 12, 2014 PortugalL1–72015 WWC Q. G5
April 5, 2014 BelgiumL0–62015 WWC Q. G5
April 10, 2014 NetherlandsL1–102015 WWC Q. G5
June 14, 2014 PortugalL0–32015 WWC Q. G5
September 13, 2014 NorwayL0–112015 WWC Q. G5
September 17, 2014 PortugalL0–42015 WWC Q. G5

Competitive record

World Cup

World Cup Finals
Year Result GP W D* L GF GA GD
China 1991Did Not Enter-------
Sweden 1995Did Not Enter-------
United States 1999Did Not Enter-------
United States 2003Did Not Enter-------
China 2007Did Not Enter-------
Germany 2011Did Not Enter-------
Canada 2015Did Not Qualify-------
Total0/7-------
*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

2015 FIFA World Cup qualification

Preliminary round

Team Pld
 W
 D
 L
 GF
 GA
 GD
 Pts
 Malta 3 2 1 0 9 1 +8 7
 Albania 3 2 1 0 5 2 +3 7
 Latvia 3 0 1 2 0 4 −4 1
 Luxembourg 3 0 1 2 1 8 −7 1

4 April 2013
16:00
Albania  1–1  Malta
Curo  76' Report Theuma  80'
Centenary, Ta'Qali
Referee: Petra Chudá (Slovakia)

6 April 2013
11:00
Albania  2-0  Latvia
Memedov  17'
Velaj  41' 		Report
Centenary, Ta'Qali
Referee: Yuliya Medvedeva-Keldyusheva (Kazakhstan)

9 April 2013
16:00
Luxembourg  1–2  Albania
Maurer  45' Report Jashari  16'
Velaj  69'
Centenary, Ta'Qali
Referee: Petra Chudá (Slovakia)

Qualifying group stage

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Norway 10 9 0 1 41 5 +36 27 Women's World Cup
2  Netherlands 10 8 1 1 43 6 +37 25 Play-offs
3  Belgium 10 6 1 3 34 11 +23 19
4  Portugal 10 4 0 6 19 21 −2 12
5  Greece 10 1 0 9 6 49 −43 3[lower-alpha 1]
6  Albania 10 1 0 9 3 54 −51 3[lower-alpha 1]
Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
Notes:
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Greece scored more head-to-head goals than Albania

21 September 2013
19:00
Belgium  2–0  Albania
Philtjens  17'
Zeler  53' (pen.) 		Report
King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels
Attendance: 1,526
Referee: Linn Andersson (Sweden)

26 September 2013
17:00
Albania  0–4  Netherlands
Report Melis  4', 8', 53'
Slegers  90+1'
Qemal Stafa Stadium, Tirana
Attendance: 1,100
Referee: Rhona Daly (Ireland)

26 October 2013
16:00
Norway  7–0  Albania
Christensen  12'
Thorsnes  29'
Mjelde  45+2'
Hansen  51', 70', 73'
Gulbrandsen  62' 		Report
Sarpsborg Stadion, Sarpsborg
Attendance: 1528
Referee: Riem Hussein (Germany)

30 October 2013
14:30
Albania  1–0  Greece
Velaj  52' Report
Niko Dovana Stadium, Durrës
Attendance: 1000
Referee: Aneliya Sinabova (Bulgaria)

12 February 2014
13:30
Portugal  7–1  Albania
Mendes  19', 45+2', 69'
Rodrigues  27', 90+2'
Silva  61'
Garcia  88' 		Report Serenaj  49'
Estádio Municipal de Abrantes, Abrantes
Attendance: 1129
Referee: Kristina Husballe (Denmark)

5 April 2014
16:00
Albania  0–6  Belgium
Report Van de Putte  11'
Wullaert  54'
Mermans  65'
Zeler  74', 84', 87'
Niko Dovana Stadium, Durrës
Attendance: 300
Referee: Lilach Asulin (Israel)

10 April 2014
19:00
Netherlands  10–1  Albania
van den Heiligenberg  4'
Slegers  28', 31', 32', 79', 90+3'
Gjini  45+4' (o.g.)
Martens  78', 82'
Bakker  90+1' 		Report Rrahmani  45+4'
Stadion De Braak, Helmond
Attendance: 3,518
Referee: Yuliya Medvedeva-Keldyusheva (Kazakhstan)

14 June 2014
18:00
Albania  0–3  Portugal
Report Mendes  54'
Malho  63'
Pereira  66'
Loni Papuçiu Stadium, Fier
Attendance: 100
Referee: Florence Guillemin (France)

13 September 2014
13:00
Albania  0–11  Norway
Report Herlovsen  18', 45+2', 82'
Mjelde  34', 66'
Hansen 40', 89'
Hergerberg  60', 63'
Haavi  85'
Enget  90+1'

17 September 2014
16:30
Greece  4–0  Albania
Franja  2' (o.g.)
Kokoviadou  31'
Kongouli  74'
Panteliadou  90+2' 		Report
Veria Stadium, Veria
Referee: Sabine Bonnin (France)

Current squad

# Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 GK Pellumbesha Gjyli August 31, 1986 6 0
1 GK Rifadije Shala July 5, 1983 4 0 Albania Ada Velipojë
GK Armonela Kola April 1, 1994 0 0 Albania Shkendija Durres
DF Xhuljeta Preci December 16, 1994 1 0 Albania Juban Danja
DF Erida Bajrakurtaj March 16, 1994 0 0 Albania Ada Velipojë
DF Denisa Proto April 25, 1991 1 0 Albania Ada Velipojë
DF Lumturie Muhadri November 30, 1982 0 0 Republic of Macedonia ZFK Skiponjat
DF Cyme Lulaj October 20, 1989 0 0 Albania Kinostudio Tirana
DF Albina Rrahmani February 24, 1989 1 0 Kosovo FC Prishtina
DF Fitore Govori August 3, 1987 1 1 Kosovo FC Prishtina
DF Nora Selmani November 1, 1980 0 0 Kosovo FC Prishtina
DF Fationa Borova October 27, 1992 0 0 Albania Ada Velipojë
DF Ornela Smajli May 14, 1994 0 0 Albania Ada Velipojë
MF Furtuna Velaj August 3, 1990 4 3 Finland PK-35 Vantaa
MF Geldona Morina August 3, 1994 1 Germany Essen
MF Dafina Memedov February 21, 1990 2 1 Sweden IFK Norrköping DFK
MF Aurora Seranaj(Captain) May 14, 1982 2 1 Italy S.S. Lazio
MF Suada Jashari October 19, 1988 2 2 Kosovo KFF Kosova
MF Xhemile Berisha July 22, 1981 1 1 Kosovo FC Prishtina
MF Megi Doci October 14, 1996 Albania Tirana AS
MF Marsela Djegsina May 13, 1995 0 0 Albania The Door
MF Jesmira Tula June 9, 1996 Albania Ada Velipojë
MF Anela Vishkulli August 8, 1994 Albania Kinostudio Tirana
MF Endrina Elezaj January 12, 1997 0 0 Albania Kinostudio Tirana
MF Elizabeta Ejupi April 21, 1994 1 0 England Charlton Athletic
MF Dielona Luta November 9, 1994 0 0 Germany SC 07 Bad Neuenahr
MF Arjeta Krasniqi 29 June 1989 1 0 Germany TuS St.Hubert
FW Ellvana Curo January 22, 1992 2 1 Australia Box Hill
FW Ana Baro November 1, 1992 2 1 Germany Tus Rodenbach
FW Arbnora Robelli September 3, 1992 2 0 Sweden IS Halmia
FW Avdije Veliu January 16, 1988 0 0 Albania Ada Velipojë
FW Emanuela Jaku May 11, 1993 1 0 Albania Juban Danja
FW Blerta Kaçiu February 24, 1992 0 0 Kosovo KFF Kosova
DF Arta Rama October 10, 1996 0 0 Albania Kinostudio Tirana

Managers

This is a list of the managers of Albania since 2011:

  1. Albania Altin Rraklli

Record against other countries

Opponent Games Wins Draws Losses Goals For Goals Against Goal Differential
 Belgium 2 0 0 2 0 8 -8
 Greece 2 1 0 1 1 4 -3
 Latvia 1 1 0 0 2 0 +2
 Luxembourg 1 1 0 0 2 1 +1
 Macedonia 4 3 0 1 10 5 +5
 Malta 1 0 1 0 1 1 0
 Montenegro 2 2 0 0 8 5 +3
 Netherlands 2 0 0 2 1 14 -13
 Norway 2 0 0 2 0 18 -18
 Portugal 2 0 0 2 1 10 -9
10 Countries 19 8 1 10 26 66 −40

References

  1. ↑ FIFA Ranking
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Kirill (16 August 2010). "Albania matches". Kirill. Archived from the original on 20 August 2010. Retrieved 16 August 2010.
  3. ↑ Seranaj scores as Albania women make their international debut UEFA.com
  4. ↑ Sue Prior. "Winning International debut for Liz". Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  5. ↑ "Montenegro vs. Albania 2 - 4". Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  6. ↑ "Albania vs. Montenegro 4 - 3". Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  7. ↑ "Albania vs. Macedonia FYR 2 - 0". Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  8. ↑ Δράμα -Αλβανία μέσα απο το φακό
  9. ↑ Αυλαία στο τουρνουά της Δράμας (+photos)- Κόγγουλη "Καλό τεστ το τουρουά για την Εθνική"
  10. ↑ UEFA.com. "Albania, Montenegro learn debut opposition". Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  11. ↑ UEFA.com. "Four through from World Cup preliminary round". Retrieved 9 April 2013.

External links