- November 12, 2025 18:56
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The Albanian national football team has appeared in the European Championship twice. It is on track to appear in another major football tournament.
But to continue their dream of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, Albania needs a win against Andorra. To ensure a qualifying play-off on Thursday, they also need England to win against Serbia.
Albania plays against Andorra in Encamp, Thursday at 20:45. It is the penultimate qualifying match for the World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada.
Albania coach Sylvinho has said that Andorra is a difficult opponent. The Brazilian has emphasized that Andorra plays well in the defensive phase. But he expects the players to emerge victorious from the match in Andorra.
“They are two different matches. The Andorra coach has been in charge for a long time and knows the team and his players very well. He is good in defensive play and gets the most out of his players. It is a team that concedes a maximum of two goals and we have seen this in other matches that we have analyzed. Even in Tirana it was difficult at the beginning, but when we scored the first and second goal we were calmer. We have also seen other matches, against Serbia it was a draw in the first half. It is a difficult team to beat, but I hope that tomorrow we will manage to win the match”, said Sylvinho at the press conference on Wednesday.
He added that Albania’s players want to write another story.
“We are growing a lot as a federation. When we grow, others grow too, of course. This is also seen in the results we have had in the qualifiers, the European and now in the World Cup qualifiers. The differences in football are now becoming smaller and this is the passion that football brings. When you play abroad it is more difficult. We have shown better results at home. We are in a good situation, which we have not had before in the history of the national team, to be very close to qualifying for the playoffs. I hope we have a good match tomorrow against Andorra”, said Sylvinho.
The Rossoneri coach has announced minor changes against Andorra. He has mentioned that he could play with two strikers.
“The team will be the same in terms of spirit, competition and the way the dressing room is built and managed and everything related to it. There may be one more striker, the construction of the game may be different, but everything will depend on the characteristics of the different teams we face. Of course, this obligation has started since the match with Latvia. We are a team that concedes little, we keep our composure and this gives us the opportunity to reach the goal.”
Sylvinho, one of the players who will have the opportunity to play in the decisive match, expects the maximum on the field.
“The players must enter the field focused and give their best. We must manage the game well, as it will be a very difficult 90 minutes against a team that drew with Serbia in the first half and England 1:0. It is a difficult game to play,” said Sylvinho.
Captain Berat Gjimshiti spoke before Sylvinho at the press conference. He said that the only goal is victory.
“We came for one purpose, to get full points, as we need them for the qualifying matches. We have seen the matches that Andorra has played against England and Serbia. It has put them in difficulty, but we will play our game and I believe that we will enter the field with great confidence to win the match. We will respect the opponent, the 90 minutes will be great, but we must be mentally strong to face everything,” said Gjimshiti.
He said that the dream of qualifying for the World Cup could become a reality.
“A very important match. The next match is always important. We are in a good moment, we will enter the field to get full points to continue the dream of securing the playoffs. If you had asked me ten years ago, of course not, but if you ask me now I say yes, because I believe in the team’s possibilities, the possibilities that football gives you, because football gives you all the possibilities and this is what pushes you forward and I also believe in the team. Everything is achievable and why not try it”, emphasized Gjimshiti.
Albania’s last match is on Sunday against England in Tirana.
England have secured qualification, while Albania are second with 11 points. Serbia follows in third place with 10 points, while Latvia is fourth with five points. Andorra takes last place with one point.
