UEFA EURO 2016: Albania team preview

Having enjoyed a qualification campaign which included a 1-0 win over Portugal, Albania have managed to make it to their first ever major tournament. It would be fair to say that this side were one of a few surprise packages in qualification and, considering that they’ve never played on the big stage before, their presence at EURO 2016 ahead of both Denmark and Serbia was a little unexpected. That being said, they’re certainly in France on merit and have proved themselves, on numerous occasions during qualifying, to be a useful outfit.

Like a number of the smaller nations at this tournament it’s hard to know exactly what to expect from the Albanians. The fact that they’ve never qualified for this tournament previously perhaps suggests that they could be the whipping boys, but their record in qualifying would indicate otherwise.

EURO 2016 Squad

Goalkeepers: Etrit Berisha (Lazio), Alban Hoxha (Partizani), Orges Shehi (Skenderbeu).

Defenders: Elseid Hysaj (Napoli), Lorik Cana (Nantes), Arlind Ajeti (Frosinone), Mergim Mavraj (Koeln), Naser Aliji (Basel), Ansi Agolli (Karabag), Frederik Veseli (Lugano).

Midfielders: Ermir Lenjani (Nantes), Andi Lila (Giannina), Migjen Basha (Como), Ledian Memushaj (Pescara), Burim Kukeli (Zurich), Taulant Xhaka (Basel), Ergys Kace (Paok), Amir Abrashi (Freiburg), Odise Roshi (Rijeka).

Forwards: Bekim Balaj (Rijeka), Sokol Cikalleshi (Medipol Basaksehir), Armando Sadiku (Vaduz), Shkelzen Gashi (Colorado Rapids).

Unless you’re an avid follow of all European football then there won’t be too many familiar names in this Albania squad, but don’t let that fool you into thinking they’re simply no good. Several of this squad play their domestic football for clubs in some of the Europe’s top divisions, including Ligue 1, Serie A and the Bundesliga.

Key Player: Elsei Hysaj

This attack minded full back is the rising star of Albanian football. Currently plying his trade in Italy with Napoli, the defender comes into these championships on the back of a good season, one that saw him feature in a list containing the best 11 youth players playing in Serie A. At just 22 years of the age Hysaj has already been capped 20 times by his country and has quickly become an integral part of the team.

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Playing as an attacking full back, predominantly on the right hand side, Hysaj is a player who is equally adept at both defending and going forward, as well as possessing good vision and the ability to deliver a dangerous ball into the box. The 22 year old is a big player for Albania and his creativity down the flanks will be an important asset at these finals.

Qualifying

Losing only two matches in qualifying Albania showed that they can be a reasonably hard team to beat. Both defeats came in very tight games, with each of the three goals they conceded in those losses coming inside stoppage time. Aside from what were, in reality, two unlucky losses, they performed well and conceded only five goals throughout the campaign.

Group Matches

Albania v Switzerland – 11 June, 2016

France v Albania – 15 June, 2016

Romania v Albania – 19 June, 2016

Click here for the full Euro 2016 match schedule. 

Verdict

Albania find themselves in Group A with Switzerland, Romania and hosts France. On the face of it, it looks a big ask for them to break into the top two, although stranger things have happened, but with a third place finish potentially good enough they might just fancy their chances of making it through to the knockouts.

From a betting angle, the way to play things as far as the Albanians are concerned is not to focus on what they’ll achieve in the group overall, but to consider their opening game against Switzerland. The Swiss, although a good side, have made a habit of conceding goals (only two clean sheets in their last ten) and considering they’re likely to try and approach this game on the front foot, Albania to score looks well worth a punt. They might not be big scorers, but they have shown a tendency to play on the counter and against an attacking side like Switzerland it’s hard to envisage them not having opportunities.