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 Ansi Agolli
Most caps Lorik Cana (93)
Top scorer Erjon Bogdani (18)
Home stadium Loro Boriçi Stadium
FIFA code ALB
First colours
Second colours
Third colours
FIFA ranking
Current 63 Increase 3 (6 July 2017)
Highest 22 (August 2015[1])
Lowest 124 (August 1997[1])
Elo ranking
Current 69 Steady (7 May 2017)[2]
Highest 55 (29 May 2016, 19 June 2016 [2])
Lowest 127 (14 & 18 December 1994 [2])
First international
Albania Albania 2–3 Yugoslavia Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
(Tirana, Albania; 7 October 1946)[3]
Biggest win
 Albania 5–0 Vietnam 
(Bastia Umbra, Italy; 12 February 2003)
 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 Federation, 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 first 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 June 19, 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 is Albania's most capped player of all time. He captained the French Olympique de Marseille, as well as the Albanian national team. (left) Lorenzo Boriçi captained Albania in winning the 1946 Balkan Cup. (right)

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 biggest win the history by defeating Cyprus 6–1 at home.[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]

Recent results and forthcoming fixtures

2016

2017

Players

Current squad

The following players were called up for the friendly match against Luxembourg on 4 June 2017 and the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Israel on 11 June 2017.[20]
Caps and goals as of 11 June 2017 after the match against Israel.

0#0 Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
12 1GK Orges Shehi (1977-09-25) 25 September 1977 7 0 Albania Skënderbeu Korçë
1 1GK Thomas Strakosha (1995-03-19) 19 March 1995 4 0 Italy Lazio
23 1GK Alban Hoxha (1987-11-23) 23 November 1987 3 0 Albania Partizani Tirana
15 2DF Mërgim Mavraj (Captain) (1986-06-09) 9 June 1986 36 3 Germany Hamburger SV
4 2DF Elseid Hysaj (1994-02-20) 20 February 1994 32 0 Italy Napoli
6 2DF Berat Djimsiti (1993-02-19) 19 February 1993 14 1 Italy Benevento
18 2DF Arlind Ajeti (1993-09-25) 25 September 1993 14 1 Italy Crotone
17 2DF Naser Aliji (1993-12-27) 27 December 1993 10 0 Germany FC Kaiserslautern
5 2DF Freddie Veseli (1992-11-20) 20 November 1992 8 0 Italy Empoli
2 3MF Andi Lila (1986-02-12) 12 February 1986 64 0 Greece PAS Giannina
14 3MF Jahmir Hyka (1988-03-08) 8 March 1988 44 2 United States San Jose Earthquakes
21 3MF Odise Roshi (1991-05-21) 21 May 1991 43 2 Russia Akhmat Grozny
8 3MF Migjen Basha (1987-01-05) 5 January 1987 26 3 Italy Bari
22 3MF Amir Abrashi (1990-03-27) 27 March 1990 26 0 Germany SC Freiburg
3 3MF Ermir Lenjani (1989-08-05) 5 August 1989 25 3 Switzerland Sion
13 3MF Burim Kukeli (1984-01-16) 16 January 1984 25 0 Switzerland Sion
9 3MF Ledian Memushaj (1986-12-07) 7 December 1986 24 1 Italy Pescara
20 3MF Ergys Kaçe (1993-07-08) 8 July 1993 19 2 Greece PAOK
7 3MF Liridon Latifi (1994-02-06) 6 February 1994 3 0 Albania Skënderbeu Korçë
11 3MF Azdren Llullaku (1988-02-15) 15 February 1988 3 0 Kazakhstan Tobol
19 3MF Eros Grezda (1995-04-15) 15 April 1995 2 0 Croatia Osijek
10 4FW Armando Sadiku (1991-05-27) 27 May 1991 28 9 Poland Legia Warsaw
16 4FW Sokol Cikalleshi (1990-07-27) 27 July 1990 26 2 Turkey İstanbul Başakşehir

Recent call-ups

The following players have been called up within the last 12 months.

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Etrit BerishaSUSP (1989-03-10) 10 March 1989 43 0 Italy Atalanta v.  Israel, 12 November 2016
DF Ansi AgolliSUSP (Captain) (1982-11-11) 11 November 1982 69 2 Azerbaijan Qarabağ v.  Bosnia and Herzegovina, 28 March 2017
DF Albi Alla (1993-02-01) 1 February 1993 1 0 Greece AEL v.  Bosnia and Herzegovina, 28 March 2017
MF Afrim Taku (1989-08-04) 4 August 1989 0 0 Albania Skënderbeu Korçë v.  Bosnia and Herzegovina, 28 March 2017
MF Keidi Bare (1997-08-28) 28 August 1997 0 0 Spain Atlético Madrid v.  Bosnia and Herzegovina, 28 March 2017
MF Taulant Xhaka (1991-03-28) 28 March 1991 18 0 Switzerland Basel v.  Italy, 24 March 2017
MF Shkëlzen Gashi (1988-07-15) 15 July 1988 17 1 United States Colorado Rapids v.  Macedonia, 5 September 2016
FW Bekim Balaj (1991-01-11) 11 January 1991 21 4 Russia Akhmat Grozny v.  Bosnia and Herzegovina, 28 March 2017
FW Edgar Çani (1989-07-22) 22 July 1989 16 4 Albania Partizani Tirana v.  Israel, 12 November 2016
FW Rey Manaj (1997-02-24) 24 February 1997 3 1 Italy Inter Milan v.  Israel, 12 November 2016

Previous squads

European Championship

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 11 June 2017.[21]
  Players that are still active
  Part of the squad that won the 1946 Balkan Cup [22]
  Part of the squad that won the 2000 Rothmans International Tournament [23]

Appearances records

Lorik Cana is the most capped player in the history of Albania with 94 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
6 DF
Ansi Agolli
 2005– 69 2
8 MF
Altin Haxhi
 1995–2009 68 3
FW
Igli Tare
 1997–2007 68 10
10 FW
Alban Bushi
 1995–2007 67 14

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
6 FW
Sokol Kushta
 1987–1996 10 31
FW
Igli Tare
 1997–2007 10 68
8 FW
Armando Sadiku
 2012– 9 28
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.[24]

Managerial history

Current coaching staff

Current coaching staff:[25]

Position Name
Head Coach Italy Christian Panucci
Assistant Coach Italy Paolo Rodolfi
Assistant Coach Albania Ervin Bulku
Athletic Coach Italy Alessandro Ciullini
Goalkeeping Coach Albania Ilir Bozhiqi
Video analyst Italy Marco Rossi
Team Doctor Italy Gianluca Stesina
Osteopat Italy Filippo Iori
Masseur Albania Arzen Voci
Physiotherapists Albania Ylli Mihali
Material Base Albania Fatos Kademi

This is a chronological list of the managers who have guided Albania since 1946.[26]

  1. Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Ljubiša Broćić (1st) (22.08.1946 – 13.10.1946)
  2. Albania Adem Karapici (1st) (25.05.1947 – 25.05.1947)
  3. Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Ljubiša Broćić (2nd) (15.06.1947 – 20.08.1947)
  4. Albania Adem Karapici (2nd) (14.09.1947 – 27.06.1948)
  5. Albania Sllave Llambi (23.10.1949 – 17.11.1949)
  6. Albania Ludovik Jakova (29.11.1949 – 08.10.1950)
  7. Albania Myslym Alla (1st) (29.11.1952 – 07.12.1952)
  8. Hungary Miklós Vadas (29.11.1953 – 29.11.1953)
  9. Soviet Union Nikolay Lyukshinov (?.?.1956 – ?.?.1957)[27]
  10. Albania Loro Boriçi (1st) (15.09.1957 – 29.06.1963)
  11. Albania Zyber Konçi (1st) (30.10.1963 – 07.05.1965)
  12. Albania Loro Boriçi (2nd) (24.11.1965 – 21.06.1972)
  13. Albania Myslym Alla (2nd) (29.10.1972 – 06.05.1973)
  14. Albania Ilia Shuke (10.10.1973 – 08.11.1973)
  15. Albania Loro Boriçi (3rd) (03.11.1976 – 03.11.1976)
  16. Albania Zyber Konçi (2nd) (03.09.1980 – 06.12.1980)
  17. Albania Loro Boriçi (4th) (01.04.1981 – 18.11.1981)
  18. Albania Shyqyri Rreli (1st) (22.09.1982 – 30.05.1985)
  19. Albania Agron Sulaj (1st) (30.10.1985 – 18.11.1987)
  20. Albania Shyqyri Rreli (2nd) (06.08.1988 – 15.11.1989)
  21. Albania Bejkush Birçe (1st) (30.05.1990 – 30.05.1990)
  22. Albania Agron Sulaj (2nd) (05.09.1990 – 19.12.1990)
  23. Albania Bejkush Birçe (2nd) (30.03.1991 -14.05.1994)
  24. Albania Neptun Bajko (07.09.1994 – 14.12.1996)
  25. Albania Astrit Hafizi (29.03.1997 – 09.10.1999)
  26. Albania Medin Zhega (06.02.2000 – 06.06.2001)
  27. Albania Sulejman Demollari (01.09.2001 – 17.04.2002)
  28. Italy Giuseppe Dossena (12.10.2002 – 16.10.2002)
  29. Germany Hans-Peter Briegel (12.02.2003 – 22.03.2006)
  30. Croatia Austria Otto Barić (16.08.2006 – 17.10.2007)
  31. → Croatia Austria Slavko Kovačić – (Caretaker) (17.11.2007 – 21.11.2007)
  32. Netherlands Arie Haan (27.05.2008 – 01.04.2009)
  33. Croatia Josip Kuže (06.06.2009 – 11.10.2011)
  34. → Bosnia and Herzegovina Džemal Mustedanagić – (Caretaker) (11.11.2011 – 15.11.2011)
  35. Italy Albania Gianni De Biasi (29.02.2012 – 14.06.2017)
  36. Italy Christian Panucci (19.07.2017 – )

Honours

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

Stadium

Panoramic view of the Loro Boriçi Stadium in Shkodër

In November 2013, Qemal Stafa Stadium was shut down by FIFA for not fulfilling international standards.[29] 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.[30]

Stadiums which have hosted Albania international football matches:

Number of
matches		 Stadium First international Last international
129 Qemal Stafa Stadium, Tiranë 7 October 1946 16 November 2015
7 Elbasan Arena, Elbasan 11 October 2014 28 March 2017
6 Loro Boriçi Stadium, Shkodër 29 March 2003 9 October 2016
2 Niko Dovana Stadium, Durrës 11 August 2010 5 March 2014
1
 Flamurtari Stadium, Vlorë 28 October 1987
Tomori Stadium, Berat 6 August 1988

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]

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.[35] 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 TVSH and SuperSport Albania, a trademark of Digitalb.

Kit history

The Albanian kit has been mostly red and black with few changes throughout the years.

Home

1946
1970
2010
2015
Euro 2016

Away

2010
2015
2015 third color
Euro 2016
Euro 2016 third color
Kit provider Period
Germany Adidas 1980–1991
Germany Uhlsport 1992–1995
Germany Puma 1996–2004
United Kingdom Umbro 2004–2008
United States Nike 2008–2010
Italy Legea 2010–2011
Germany Adidas 2011–2016
Italy Macron 2016–present

Competitive record

FIFA World Cup

FIFA World Cup record FIFA World Cup Qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D * L GF GA Position Pld W D * L GF GA
Uruguay 1930 Did Not Participate
Italy 1934
France 1938
Brazil 1950
Switzerland 1954
Sweden 1958
Chile 1962
England 1966 Did Not Qualify4/46015212
Mexico 1970 Entry Not Accepted[36]
West Germany 1974 Did Not Qualify4/46105313
Argentina 1978 Did Not Participate
Spain 1982 Did Not Qualify4/58107422
Mexico 19863/4612369
Italy 19904/46006315
United States 19947/712129626
France 19986/610118720
South Korea Japan 20025/58107514
Germany 20065/7124171120
South Africa 20105/610145613
Brazil 20145/610325911
Russia 2018 To Be Determined 3/6630378
Qatar 2022
TotalBest: –0/20000000Total10017137069183
* Denotes draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

UEFA European Championship

UEFA European Championship record UEFA European Championship Qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D * L GF GA Position Pld W D * L GF GA
France 1960 Did Not Participate
Spain 1964 Did Not QualifyFirst round430174
Italy 19683/34013012
Belgium 19724/4611459
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia 1976 Did Not Participate
Italy 1980
France 1984 Did Not Qualify5/58026414
West Germany 19884/46006217
Sweden 19925/57106221
England 19965/6102261016
Belgium Netherlands 20005/610145814
Portugal 20044/582241115
Austria Switzerland 20085/7122551218
Poland Ukraine 20125/610235714
France 2016Group Stage18th3102132/58422105
Europe 2020 To Be Determined
TotalBest: Group Stage1/15310213Total9318225378159
* Denotes draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.
Albania's European Championship record
First Match
Albania  0–1   Switzerland
(11 June 2016; Stade Bollaert-Delelis, Lens, France)
Biggest Win
Romania  0–1  Albania
(19 June 2016; Parc Olympique Lyonnais, Lyon, France)
Biggest Defeat
France  2–0  Albania
(15 June 2016; Stade Vélodrome, Marseille, France)
Best Result
Group stage at the UEFA Euro 2016
Worst Result
Group stage at the UEFA Euro 2016

Head-to-Head records against other countries

As of 11 June 2017
Opponent Games Wins Draws Losses Goals For Goals Against Goal Differential Reference
 Algeria 2 1 1 0 4 1 +3 1964 match*
H2H results
 Andorra 3 2 0 1 4 2 +2 H2H results
 Argentina 1 0 0 1 0 4 −4 H2H results
 Armenia 5 3 1 1 8 5 +3 H2H results
 Austria 7 0 0 7 2 19 −17 H2H results
 Azerbaijan 5 3 1 1 5 3 +2 H2H results
 Bahrain 1 0 0 1 0 3 −3 H2H results
 Belarus 5 1 2 2 5 8 −3 H2H results
 Belgium 2 1 0 1 3 3 0 H2H results
 Bosnia and Herzegovina 4 1 2 1 3 3 0 H2H results
 Bulgaria 13 2 4 7 8 17 −9 H2H results
 Cameroon 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 H2H results
 China PR 2 1 1 0 4 3 +1 H2H results
1957 match
 Cuba 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 H2H results
 Cyprus 6 2 2 2 12 7 +5 H2H results
 Czechoslovakia 5 2 0 3 6 10 −4 H2H results
 Denmark 10 1 3 6 4 19 −15 H2H results
 East Germany 3 0 1 2 2 7 −5 H2H results
 England 4 0 0 4 1 12 −11 H2H results
 Estonia 3 1 2 0 3 1 +2 H2H results
 Finland 7 2 1 4 6 8 −2 H2H results
 France 7 1 1 5 3 14 −11 H2H results
 Georgia 14 3 3 8 13 23 −10 H2H results
 Germany
West Germany West (1967–1983)		 14
(8)		 0 1
(1)		 13
(7)		 10
(2)		 38
(22)		 −28
(−20)		 H2H results
 Greece 15 6 3 6 16 13 +3 H2H results[7][8][37]
 Hungary 6 0 1 5 0 19 −19 H2H results
 Iceland 5 2 0 3 5 7 −2 H2H results
 Iran 1 1 0 0 1 0 +1 H2H results
 Israel 3 2 0 1 6 3 +3 H2H results
 Italy 2 0 0 2 0 3 −3 H2H results
 Kazakhstan 2 2 0 0 3 1 +2 H2H results
 Kosovo 4 3 1 0 9 5 +4 1993 Match
2002 Match
2010 match
H2H results
 Latvia 5 0 5 0 6 6 0 H2H results
 Liechtenstein 2 2 0 0 4 0 +4 H2H results
 Lithuania 4 2 0 2 7 6 +1 H2H results
 Luxembourg 7 4 1 2 10 4 +6 H2H results
 Macedonia 9 2 3 4 6 11 −5 H2H results
 Malta 8 5 2 1 14 3 +11 H2H results
 Mexico 1 0 0 1 0 4 −4 H2H results
 Moldova 3 2 1 0 6 2 +4 H2H results
 Montenegro 3 3 0 0 9 2 +7 1946 Match
H2H results
 Morocco 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 H2H results
 Netherlands 4 0 0 4 1 7 −6 H2H results
 Northern Ireland 9 2 2 5 5 13 −8 H2H results
 Norway 6 1 2 1 5 5 0 H2H results
 Poland 11 1 3 7 7 14 −7 H2H results
 Portugal 7 1 1 5 5 13 −8 H2H results
 Qatar 2 2 0 0 5 2 +3 H2H results
 Republic of Ireland 4 0 1 3 2 6 −4 H2H results
 Romania 19 3 3 13 12 45 −33 H2H results
 Russia 2 1 0 1 4 5 −1 H2H results
 San Marino 2 2 0 0 6 0 +6 H2H results
 Serbia
( Yugoslavia 1946–1967)		 7
(5)		 1
(0)		 1
(1)		 5
(4)		 7
(4)		 15
(13)		 −8
(–9)		 H2H results[note 1]
 Slovenia 7 1 2 4 2 6 −4 H2H results
 Spain 6 0 0 6 2 26 −24 H2H results
 Sweden 5 1 1 3 5 10 −5 H2H results
  Switzerland 7 0 1 6 4 12 −8 H2H results
 Turkey 9 3 2 4 11 8 +3 H2H results
 Ukraine 5 0 1 4 3 9 −6 H2H results
 Uzbekistan 1 1 0 0 1 0 +1 H2H results
 Vietnam 1 1 0 0 5 0 +5 H2H Results
 Wales 2 0 1 1 1 3 −2 H2H results
62 Countries 322 84 67 171 301 498 −197 All results at EU-Football.info
  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.[38] Both the Serbian and Albanian football associations were looking to have the decision revisited,[39][40] but the decision was upheld by UEFA.[41] Both associations then filed further appeals to the Court of Arbitration for Sport,[42] 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.[43] Serbian FA announced appeal at the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland.[44]

Memorable victories

Source: Results

Date Tournament Place Opponents Score Additional Notes
22 September 1946 N/A Shkodër, Albania 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[45]
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)[46]
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.
25 May 2010 Friendly Podgorica, Montenegro  Montenegro 1 – 0
22 May 2012 Friendly Madrid, Spain  Qatar 2 – 1
27 May 2012 Friendly Istanbul, Turkey  Iran 1 – 0
16 October 2012 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification Tirana, Albania  Slovenia 1 – 0
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)[47]
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)[48]
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.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 FIFAAlbania. "Albania in FIFA website". FIFA. Retrieved 16 August 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 Kirill. "Eloratings.net". 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. ↑ "De Biazi zyrtarizon listën, konfirmohet rikthimi i Kaçes" (in Albanian). Sport Ekspres. 1 June 2017.
  21. ↑ Albania international footballers of all-time at EU-Football.info – National football teams of Europe
  22. ↑ Albania national football team statistics and records: appearances - 1946* - Balkan Cup 11v11.com
  23. ↑ Albania won Rothmans Football International Tournament 2000: a few words by Florent Hoxha Giovanni Armillotta on line
  24. ↑ Albania national football team match results at EU-football.info
  25. ↑ Kombëtarja (Albania national team) FSHF.org
  26. ↑ "Albania national team managers". eu-football.info. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  27. ↑ Nikolay Lyukshinov at footballfacts.ru
  28. ↑ "Rothmans Tournament 2000 match reports". Rothmans Tournament 2000 match reports. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  29. ↑ "Sport.albeu.com – UEFA "djeg" edhe "Ruzhdi Bizhutën" e "Niko Dovanën"". Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  30. ↑ "Zbardhet projekti, ja si do jetë "Ruzhdi Bizhuta"". Panorama Sport. Archived from the original on 16 October 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  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).
  34. ↑ "Firmoset marrëveshja për ndërtimin e stadiumit “Arena Kombëtare”" (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 21 April 2016.
  35. ↑ Hitzfeld: Tifozët shqiptarë janë fantastikë – Sport plus Bota Sot
  36. ↑ "History of the FIFA World Cup Preliminary Competition (by year)" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Retrieved 13 December 2011.
  37. ↑ Dizdari, Besnik (15 October 2015). "Dr. Armillotta ka të drejtë". Panorama-Sport. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  38. ↑ "Serbia and Albania disciplinary decision". UEFA. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  39. ↑ AFP (25 October 2014). "Albania to appeal UEFA punishment over Serbia fracas". Business Insider. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
  40. ↑ "Serbia to appeal Uefa decision". Goal.com. 24 October 2014.
  41. ↑ "Decisions upheld for Serbia-Albania match". UEFA.com. 2 December 2014.
  42. ↑ "The football associations of Albania and Serbia file appeals at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS)" (PDF). http://www.tas-cas.org. Court of Arbitration for Sport. Retrieved 8 January 2015. External link in |website= (help)
  43. ↑ "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.
  44. ↑ "Fudbalski savez Srbije – zvanična web prezentacija". fss.rs.
  45. ↑ Jonathan Wilson (1 May 2014). "Despite its inescapable past, Bosnia-Herzegovina writes new chapter". sportsillustrated.cnn.com.
  46. ↑ "FIFA Men's Ranking 1 September 2004". FIFA.com. 2004.
  47. ↑ "FIFA Men's Ranking 14 August 2014". FIFA.com. 2015.
  48. ↑ "FIFA Men's Ranking 4 June 2015". FIFA.com. 2015.
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