September 7 in Paris, the Ukraine national team will play a group stage match of the 2024/2025 Nations League in Group B1 against Albania. Here is our opponent.

Albania

General Information

As of July 2024, Albania held the 66th place in the official FIFA ranking. The Albanian national team played its first match in history on October 7, 1946 against Yugoslavia (2:3), with their biggest victories coming on February 12, 2003 against Vietnam (5:0), August 12, 2009 against Cyprus (6:1) and September 8, 2021 against San Marino (5:0). Their worst defeat was suffered on September 24, 1950 to Hungary (0:12). The team is nicknamed "red-black" and "Eagles."

The highest achievement of the Albanian national team is reaching the group stage of Euro 2016 and Euro 2024.

Squad

In the Nations League match against Ukraine, head coach Silvino will be able to rely on 23 players.

Goalkeepers: Thomas Strakosha (AEK, Greece), Alen Sherri ("Cagliari", Italy), Simon Simoni ("Ingolstadt", Germany).

Defenders: Elseid Hysaj ("Lazio", Italy), Ivan Balliu ("Rayo Vallecano", Spain), Mari Mitej ("LOKO Moscow", Russia), Marash Kumbulla ("Espanyol", Spain), Ardi Ismaili ("Empoli", Italy), Enea Miha ("Famalicao", Portugal), Andi Hadergjonaj ("Partizan").

Midfielders: Yllber Ramadanji, Medon Berisha (both — "Lecce", Italy), Amir Abrashi ("Graubünden", Switzerland), Kristian Aslani ("Inter", Italy), Kajim Laci ("Sparta", Czech Republic), Nedim Bayrami ("Sassuolo", Italy), Arber Hoxha ("Dinamo Z", Croatia), Jasir Ashani ("Kwangju", South Korea), Sebastian Spahiu ("Mes Rafsanjan", Iran).

Forwards: Taufik Seferi ("Vorskla", Ukraine), Murto Uzuni ("Granada", Spain), Rey Manaj ("Sivasspor", Turkey), Ajet Zeqiri ("Partizan").

Main Coach

50-year-old Brazilian specialist Silvino has been coaching the Albanian national team since February 3, 2023. He replaced Italian Eduardo Rae in this position.

Prior to this, he worked with French "Lyon", Brazilian "Corinthians" and Brazil's Olympic team.

Under Silvino's leadership, the Albanian national team has played 16 matches, winning seven, drawing four, and losing five.

Leader

Due to injury of captain Blerim Dzemaili, the current leader of the Albanian national team is forward Rey Manaj of Turkish "Sivasspor."

The 27-year-old Manaj has played 37 matches for his national team, scoring eight goals. In his career, he has played for "Cremonese", "Pescara", "Pisa", "Inter", "Granada", "Albacete", "Barcelona B", "Spezia" and "Watford".

Recall that the match between Ukraine and Albania national teams will take place on September 7 in Paris at the "Epet Arena" (kickoff — 9:45 PM).