AGI – Tonight kick-off for Italy at the European Football Championships Germany 2024. Big screens are ready throughout Italy to follow the match in the squares. But even in Albania the attention is high.
Italy-Albania is the match of the heart for Edy Reja. The 78 year old technician from Gorizia, coach of the Albanian national team from 2019 to 2022, is ready to experience it from the stands of the Westfalenstadion in Dortmund. He was invited by the president of the Albanian Football Federation Armand Duka and today he will reach Germany from Tirana with a charter flight which will also include some Albania players who participated in the 2016 European Championships in France.
Reja, is your bond with Albania still very strong?
“Of course – he replies in an interview in the Nem group newspapers – after four years of such intense work it cannot be otherwise. President Duka had asked me to prepare Euro 2024, the team has qualified and now faces the event with 16/ 17 guys that I caught in the Italian championship and in other tournaments around Europe. I gave my soul for Albaniawho deserved to get this far, beating Poland and the Czech Republic. It won’t be easy for Italy.”
Who will Italy-Albania be rooting for? “I support the Azzurri, but I would be happy to see Albania make a good impression.” However, he adds, “don’t underestimate your opponent. Albania has grown a lot in recent years. From a technical point of view, thanks to the presence of around ten players in the Italian championship, but also as a Federation”.
