On paper it is the Cinderella of the group. In fact, Italy, Spain and Croatia seem at least a head above Albania. And yet… the national team of coach Sylvinho, a former Barcelona and Brazil athlete, could not only be the loose cannon of group B, but also the tipping point for progressing to the next round. In fact, if one of the three super favorites in group B were to make a misstep against the Albanian players, he could pay dearly for it. And for this to happen is not so impossible.
Albania, in fact, won qualifying group E ahead of the Czech Republic and Poland. Only one defeat for a team that made its debut in 2016 at a final stage of the European Championships, and four goals conceded, demonstrating a solidity perhaps never seen before in its footballing history. Even in this case, there is some knowledge of Italian football: between the posts there is in fact Berisha, fresh from salvation with Empoli, while one of the two full-backs is Hysaj, formerly of Napoli and now at Lazio. In the middle, all eyes are on Asslani, a young player on the rise at Inter, while Nenad Bajrami from Sassuolo is playing between the lines. Up front, the goalscoring hopes are entrusted to the creativity of Rey Manajback after a period of oblivion in the football that matters.
The star
We had left him in Italy like a failed promise. The long wandering, after having stood out in the youth sectors of Cremonese and Inter, between Pescara, Pisa, Sampdoria, Cremonese and Spezia had not paid off. In between the experiences in Spain, at Granada, at Barcellona B and at Albacete and in England, at Watford. Rey Manaj seemed to be lost, but he chose the path of Turkey almost as a last chance and this season he has definitely exploded. With the Sivasporr shirt he scored 18 goals in 33 league games, practically the average of a goal every two games. Truly significant numbers which have once again raised the prices of the striker born in 1997. For the first time in his career he not only reached double figures, but actually surpassed himself by scoring 22 goals, also considering the four goals in the national cup. In recent months he has also returned, after two years, to take a place in the national team. Now the great chance of the European Championships, for him and for an entire nation.
The probable formation (4-2-3-1)
Berisha; Ismaijli, Mitaj, Balliu, Hysai; Laci, Asllani; Broia, Bajrami, Daku; Manaj.
