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Albania national under-21 football team

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Albania national under-21 football team
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The Albania national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Albania and is controlled by the Football Association of Albania. The team competes in the UEFA European Under-21 Championship, which is held every two years.

Quick facts Nickname(s), Association ...

Following the realignment of UEFA's youth competitions in 1976, the Albanian under-21 team was formed.

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History

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Balkan Youth Championship

Albania Under-21 participated in the Balkan Youth Championship as a succeder[clarification needed] of Under-23 team, in the 1976–78 and 1981 competitions, winning both with finals against Romania and Bulgaria. Notably in 1978, the second leg of the final match against Romania was characterized by a large Albania's win 7–1, which is the largest win ever recorded by Albania U-21.[3]

1984 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship

In 1978 a Competition for the European Under-21 teams was created but the Albania Under-21s didn't participated in first 3 editions and debuted in the competition in the 1984s Championship where they managed to qualify for the first and only time in their history although they were competing for the first time in such tournament. The historic event was the first time any Albanian squad qualified for a Europe or World Championship, and only the fifth time any Albanian squad qualified for the major championships. To this day the team that qualified for that competition are still regarded as the most successful team in Albanian football history. In the qualifying stage they were drawn in a very tough group which included the West Germany, Turkey and Austria. Albania U21 managed to qualify without losing a single game winning both home-away versus Austria (1–2 away & 3–0 home) & Turkey (both 1–0) and managing two very good draws against one of the biggest and best footballing nations, West Germany (both 1–1), heading the group with 10 points, 1 above West Germany. Albania played the quarter finals against Italy, against which it lost twice 0–1 both home and away as Italy advanced to the semifinals losing against England, the eventual champions.

1986–1994

In the 1986 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Albania came last in group after Poland and Greece, and could not qualify. In the 1988 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Albania came again last in group after Spain, Romania and Austria. In the 1990 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Albania came last in group after Sweden, England and Poland. In the 1992 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship managed to precede Iceland as last in the group, but was preceded by Czechoslovakia, France and Spain. In the qualifiers of the 1994 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Albania preceded bottom team Republic of Ireland, but was preceded by Spain, Germany and Denmark.

1996–2002

In the 1996 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship qualification Albania did not participate. In the qualifiers of the 1998 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Albania left behind Armenia, but had to trail in the final rankings Germany, Ukraine, and Portugal. In the qualifiers of the 2000 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Albania trailed Greece, Norway, Georgia, Latvia, and Slovenia and closed at the bottom of the group. In the qualifiers of the 2002 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Albania came again last behind England, Greece, Germany, and Finland.

2004–2007

In the qualifiers of the 2004 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Albania had the best result since Euro '84, when it had won the group, as it left two teams behind (Republic of Ireland and Georgia), but was preceded by Switzerland and Russia, and thus failed to qualify to the main tournament. In the qualifiers of the 2006 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Albania left behind itself Kazakhstan, but was preceded by Denmark, Ukraine, Greece, Turkey, and Georgia. In the qualifiers of the 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, in a 3 teams group, Albania came last behind Spain and Slovakia and failed to qualify.

2009–2013

In the qualifiers of the 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Albania was fourth out of 6 teams in the final ranking, leaving behind the Faroe Islands and Azerbaijan, but trailing behind Italy, Croatia and Greece. In the qualifiers of the 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Albania left again behind Azerbaijan but trailed Scotland, Belarus, and Austria in the final rankings. In the qualifiers of the 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Albania came last trailing behind Russia, Portugal, Poland, and Moldova. However, as a consolation for the first time an Albanian footballer, Armando Sadiku was the top goalscorer of the group. Albania drew in Russia against the famous hosts during that tournament, a noticeable fact. Albania were also able to draw against Portugal in Durrës with 2–2 during this qualifying. Albania suffered close loses against Poland in Grudziądz with 4–3 and to Russia with 0–1 in Durrës respectively.

2015–2019

In the qualification in Group 4 Albania would finish in last place. They were able to beat Hungary with 0–2 away from home.[4] Albania would also beat notable Austria with 1–3 away from home in the Liebenauer Stadium in Graz.[5] As a fact Albanian won for the first time in their history more matches away than at home in an Under-21 qualification. In the following 2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification Group 4. Albania finished fourth leaving Hungary and Liechtenstein but trailing behind Greece, Israel and eventual Group winners Portugal. securing 12 points in the progress. Albania were able to win three matches in this qualifying. They beat Liechtenstein with 2-0 and away from home with the same result. As well as beating Hungary in Elbasan with 2–1 in fact.[6] They drew three times once against Israel in Elbasan with 1-1 and away to Hungary with 2-2 and in the derby at home against Greece with 0:0.[7]

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Competitive record

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UEFA European Under-23 Championship

The event was classified as a U-23 tournament where at time were played three competitions, 1972, 1974 & 1976.

More information UEFA European Under-21 Championship record, UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification record ...

Note: The year of the tournament represents the year in which it ends.

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Fixtures and results

2023

23 March 2023 (2023-03-23) Friendly Azerbaijan  1–2  Albania Antalya
15:00 Cəfərov 46' Report S. Shpendi 43'
Pajaziti 51'
Stadium: Antalya Stadium
27 March 2023 (2023-03-27) Friendly Poland  2–0  Albania Antalya
15:00 Włodarczyk 11', 81' Report Stadium: Antalya Stadium
20 June 2023 (2023-06-20) Friendly Albania  3–1  Bulgaria Elbasan
18:30 S. Shpendi 9'
Kurtulan 13'
Berisha 50'
Report Stoyanov 23' Stadium: Elbasan Arena
8 September 2023 (2023-09-08) 2025 UEFA Q Armenia  1–2  Albania Abovyan
17:00 Tarakhchyan 86' Report S. Shpendi 28'
Rexhepi 37'
Stadium: Abovyan City Stadium
Attendance: 1,200
Referee: Radoslav Gidzhenov (Bulgaria)
12 September 2023 (2023-09-12) 2025 UEFA Q Albania  3–2  Romania Elbasan
18:30 C. Shpendi 63'
Berisha 71'
Pajaziti 88'
Report Grameni 47'
Borza 58'
Stadium: Elbasan Arena
Attendance: 713
Referee: Bulat Saryev (Kazakhstan)
13 October 2023 (2023-10-13) 2025 UEFA Q Finland  4–1  Albania Turku
17:00 Liimatta 4', 6', 48'
Ylitolva 90+6'
Report Pajaziti 80' Stadium: Veritas Stadion
Attendance: 2,247
Referee: Maria Sole Caputi (Italy)
17 October 2023 (2023-10-17) 2025 UEFA Q Albania  2–0  Montenegro Rrogozhinë
14:30 Berisha 27' (pen.)
S. Shpendi 73'
Report Stadium: Arena Egnatia
Attendance: 512
Referee: Jarred Gavan Gillett (Australia)
17 November 2023 (2023-11-17) 2025 UEFA Q Romania  5–0  Albania Giulești
19:30 Munteanu 7' (pen.)
M. Ilie 15'
R. Ilie 37'
Grameni 55'
Danciu 86'
Report Stadium: Stadionul Rapid-Giulești
Attendance: 2,234
Referee: Matthew De Gabriele (Malta)

2024

22 March 2024 (2024-03-22) 2025 UEFA Q Albania  0–0  Finland Tirana
17:00 Report Stadium: Arena Kombëtare
Referee: Michal Očenáš (Slovakia)
26 March 2024 (2024-03-26) 2025 UEFA Q Albania  1–3   Switzerland Tirana
17:00 Shpendi 90+3' Report Surdez 28'
Sanches 59'
Keller 76'
Stadium: Arena Kombëtare
Referee: Adam Ladebäck (Sweden)
7 June 2024 (2024-06-07) 2025 UEFA Q Montenegro  1–0  Albania Podgorica
20:00 Franeta 90+2' Report Stadium: Podgorica City Stadium
Referee: Jonathan Lardot (Belgium)
11 June 2024 (2024-06-11) Friendly Albania  4–0 Liechtenstein Liechtenstein U23 Durrës
19:00 Pajaziti 37' (pen.)
Rashica 42'
Maksuti 52'
Kurtulan 90+2' (pen.)
Report Stadium: Niko Dovana Stadium
Referee: Florjan Lata (Albania)
6 September 2024 (2024-09-06) 2025 UEFA Q Switzerland  1–2  Albania Lausanne
19:30 Surdez 16' Report Pajaziti 18', 69' Stadium: Stade de la Tuilière
Referee: Atilla Karaoğlan (Turkey)
15 October 2024 (2024-10-15) 2025 UEFA Q Albania  1–0  Armenia Tirana
Aventisian 57' (o.g.) Report Stadium: Arena Kombëtare
Referee: Kyriakos Athanasiou (Cyprus)
15 November 2024 (2024-11-15) Friendly Albania  1–1  Moldova Vorë
Rashica 10' (pen.) Report Costin 79' Stadium: Vora Stadium
18 November 2024 (2024-11-18) Friendly Albania  4–0  Moldova Vorë
Rashica 16'
Ismaili 54'
Rama 87'
Daka 90+3'
Report Stadium: Vora Stadium

2025

21 March 2025 (2025-03-21) Friendly Greece  0–0  Albania Serres
16:00 Report Stadium: Serres Municipal Stadium
25 March 2025 (2025-03-25) Friendly Luxembourg  1–0  Albania Parc Housen
18:30 Videira 57' Report Stadium: Stade Georges Wohlfart
5 June 2025 (2025-06-05) Friendly Hungary  1–2  Albania Kecskemét
19:30 Drágoner 74' Report Dodaj 46'
Osmani 76'
Stadium: Széktói Stadion
8 June 2025 (2025-06-08) Friendly Turkey  1–0  Albania Istanbul
19:00 Kılıçsoy 27' Report Stadium: Atatürk Olympic Stadium
5 September 2025 (2025-09-05) Friendly Albania  v  Germany Elbasan
Stadium: Elbasan Arena
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Players

Current squad

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Recent call-ups

The following players have been called up for the team within the last 12 months and are still available for selection.

More information Pos., Player ...
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Coaching staff

Current coaching staff:[9]

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Balkan Youth Championship

More information Balkan Youth Championship record, Year ...
*Denotes draws include knockout matches decided on penalty shoot-out.
**Gold background colour indicates that the tournament was won.
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Honours

Balkan Youth Championship
  • Winners (2): 1978, 1981

See also

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References

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