Euro 2024 team guide and best bets: Albania
Albania were one of the surprise packages in qualifying for Euro 2024, so can they do some damage in a mouth-watering Group B?
Get clued up on the Red and Blacks in Odds Now’s comprehensive team guide, which features tactical analysis, players to watch out for, predicted line-ups, betting tips and more.
How Albania qualified for Euro 2024
For the first time in their 78-year history, Albania arrive at a major tournament having topped their qualification group.
Under the watchful eye of former Arsenal and Barcelona star Sylvinho, the Baltic nation amassed 15 points from their eight Group E fixtures — pipping the Czech Republic to top spot via a superior head-to-head record.
That 3-0 victory over the Czechs in Tirana was one of the finest results in their history, as was a 2-0 home triumph over Poland a month earlier.
Sylvinho’s men conceded just four times in eight outings, which gives a strong clue to how they will be approaching things in Germany this summer.
They do possess goal threats, however. K-League star Jasir Asani and Sassuolo creator Nedim Bajrami shared the top scorer honours by finding the net three times apiece.
Albania’s Prime Minister marked his nation’s achievement by making Sylvinho the first non-Albanian ever to be awarded a prestigious Golden Eagle medal.
Albania's squad for Euro 2024
Albania have named a 26-man squad ahead of the tournament:
Goalkeepers: Etrit Berisha (Empoli), Elhan Kastrati (Cittadella), Thomas Strakosha (Brentford)
Defenders: Arlind Ajeti (CFR Cluj), Naser Aliji (Voluntari), Iván Balliu (Rayo Vallecano), Berat Djimsiti (Atalanta), Elseid Hysaj (Lazio), Ardian Ismajli (Empoli), Marash Kumbulla (Sassuolo), Enea Mihaj (Famalicão), Mario Mitaj (Lokomotiv Moskva)
Midfielders: Amir Abrashi (Grasshoppers), Kristjan Asllani (Inter), Nedim Bajrami (Sassuolo), Klaus Gjasula (Darmstadt), Qazim Laçi (Sparta Praha), Ylber Ramadani (Lecce), Taulant Seferi (Baniyas)
Forwards: Jasir Asani (Gwangju), Medon Berisha (Lecce), Armando Broja (Fulham), Mirlind Daku (Rubin Kazan), Arbër Hoxha (Dinamo Zagreb), Rey Manaj (Sivasspor), Ernest Muçi (Beşiktaş)
Albania’s predicted starting XI for Euro 2024
Albania’s star player - Elseid Hysaj
More and more of Albania’s squad are now plying their trade across Europe’s top leagues but none boast the top-tier experience of full-back Elseid Hysaj.
Still only 30 years of age, the Lazio full-back is a handful of games from usurping Lorik Cana as his country’s most-capped player and has 300 Serie A appearances under his belt across stints with Empoli, Napoli and his current employers.
Hysaj was a fresh-faced 22-year-old when Albania made their tournament bow at Euro 2016, where they impressed in a group stage exit which featured a heartbreaking injury-time loss to France and a famous victory over Romania.
Back then, he caught the eye as an efficient defender who was capable of offering an offensive threat too due to his impressive energy levels.
Nowadays, that attacking threat has reduced markedly. In fact, Hysaj’s performances have come in for criticism at club level this term and as a result, he faces an uncertain future.
Perhaps his no-nonsense approach to playing full-back has fallen out of fashion in recent times, though clashes with Spain, Italy and Croatia should suit his skill-set perfectly.
Furthermore, Hysaj’s leadership qualities will be pivotal if Group B’s underdogs are to bloody any noses.
Albania’s one to watch - Kristjan Asllani
As one of a cluster of Albanian internationals based in Italy, Kristjan Asllani will be relishing his country's opening encounter at Euro 2024.
A 22-year-old holding midfielder, Asllani moved to Tuscany at the age of five and rose through the ranks at Serie A side Empoli.
An impressive breakthrough campaign prompted Inter Milan to sign him in 2022 for a fee north of £10 million and Nerrazurri boss Simone Inzaghi immediately liked what he saw.
Asllani has already made 60 appearances for the reigning Serie A champions in two seasons, including 11 Champions League outings.
Effectively an understudy to arguably Inter’s most influential player in Hakan Calhanoglu, he is already capable of dictating a game’s tempo from the base of midfield.
After standing in for the Turkish international back in March, Inzaghi said of Asllani: “He’s played three matches in the space of a week, and was absolutely precious for us.
“I want to praise him publicly because he deserves it. He is already having a fantastic career here.”
Still raw and with plenty of room to develop, it would be no surprise to see interest arise in the youngster this summer.
Albania’s manager - Sylvinho
Sylvinho’s appointment as Albania boss last January came as a surprise to even the man himself.
The Brazilian enjoyed a fantastic club career at the top level but had not made many waves in the dugout, having endured ill-fated spells in charge of Lyon and Corinthians.
Yet something has clicked for him on the international scene. Alongside assistant coaches Doriva and Paulo Zabaleta, he has injected some South American flair into an unassuming European minnow and it is proving a surprisingly potent mix.
The 50-year-old’s lack of ties to Albania meant a fresh approach, casting the net far and wide to call up previously untested players such as J-League winger Asani, who ended up top-scoring in qualifying.
Of course, qualification was a monstrous achievement in itself and the former defender has urged his players to let the shackles off this summer.
Speaking in May, he said: “We know the strength of our opponents. They do not play to pass the group but to win the European Championship.
“We go there to show our trust in each other, the team's heart and spirit. That is what we should show at the Euros.”
Albania’s Euro 2024 betting odds
Albania to win Euro 2024 - 750/1
Croatia to reach the Euro 2024 final - 300/1
Albania to win Group B - 30/1
Albania top team goalscorer - No goalscorer 8/1, Armando Sadiku 8/1, Sokol Cikalleshi 8/1, Myrto Uzuni 8/1, 10/1 BAR
*All best UK prices available as of 28/05/24
Analysis and best bets for Albania at Euro 2024
Expert analysis from Odds Now’s Matt Hill:
“It is 10 years since lowly Costa Rica topped their World Cup group ahead of the mighty trio of England, Uruguay and Italy — a feat which should give Albania inspiration.
“Sylvinho’s plucky side topped their qualifying group for the first time ever and would have been a threat to many teams in this tournament.
“However, I’m afraid even a minnow-lover like myself is struggling to see how the Red and Blacks negotiate their way out of Group B.
“Their first game with near-neighbours Italy will be crucial and you can expect that to be a highly-charged affair given the close ties between the nations.
“Sadly, value may be in opposing positive performance. ‘No Goalscorer’ in the Albania team top scorer market is a juicy 8/1 and you also get the added bonus of keeping own goals on side with that selection.
“If I was picking out a player to back in that market, it would be attacking midfielder Nedim Bajrami.
“He’s a nailed-on starter, takes free-kicks and penalties and offers a tremendous bit of value at 16/1 versus some of his team-mates.”
Matt’s Best Bets:
No Albania goalscorer - 8/1 (BetVictor)
Nedim Bajrami top Albanian goalscorer - 16/1 (BetVictor)