Albania eyes first-ever World Cup playoff spot in Andorra clash
The Albanian national team will play today at 20:45 against Andorra at the “FAF” stadium in one of the most important matches of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
It is a match where only three points matter, and the chances of qualifying for the World Cup playoffs for the first time are very high, CE Report quotes ATA.
Ahead of this clash, coach Sylvinho and captain Berat Gjimshiti held a press conference at the stadium where the match will take place.
Coach Sylvinho praised Andorra as a strong and organized team but emphasized that Albania will enter the field to win, making the most of the players’ characteristics while maintaining the team’s composure and balance.
He added that preparations have gone very well and all players are in good physical condition.
“The Andorran coach has been with his team for a long time and knows them very well. Their defensive line is very strong, and he gets the maximum out of his team. They are a team that concedes at most two goals, and we have seen this in other matches we analyzed with other opponents. Even in Tirana, it was difficult at first. Later we scored and were a bit calmer. We have also seen in other matches, a draw, the first 45 minutes in the last match against Serbia was 1-1. This shows that they are a team difficult to beat. They fight for every ball. I hope we succeed tomorrow in winning,” Sylvinho emphasized.
Asked whether Albania can make it to the World Cup, Sylvinho replied.
“In fact, we are growing a lot as a Federation. While we grow, so do others. This can be seen in the results we have had in qualifiers, in the European Championship, and now in the World Cup qualifiers. Differences in football are becoming smaller. Playing away is, of course, a bit more difficult than playing at home. Statistics show that we have better results at home. Play-offs are a tough step. We are in a good situation that we have never had in history. I hope tomorrow we have a very good match.”
Regarding the match, Sylvinho said.
“The team will be the same as always in terms of fighting spirit and how the squad is built, how the locker room is managed, and everything else that has to do with the team. The same as we started the qualifiers against England. Of course, there may be changes. There may be an extra striker, the team setup may be slightly different. But this depends on the characteristics of the team we face.”
“The obligation to win started with the match against Latvia. This is the third match where we are obliged to win. We have created a balanced team. As Gjimshiti said, we concede little, we are a team that maintains composure, and this gives us the balance to reach the goal. It will be a tough match, but it will be the same team spirit as at the start of the qualifiers,” Sylvinho said.
When asked if he has instilled the right mentality in the players to win this match against the theoretically easier rival, Sylvinho said.
“When we played against Serbia in October, we had more days to prepare. It depends on how the match dates fall. We didn’t work much on the field, mostly we did video analysis and communicated with the players constantly. During dinner, in meetings, sending the right messages. I see the players very motivated, focused on what we need to do in the match. We also have one training session today. Regarding the responsibility of the coach, in fact, it is the whole staff, but I always take it on myself.”
“The players know they must go onto the field and give their maximum. Regarding tactics and match management, this is the most important element. We need to focus on managing 90 very difficult minutes against a team that drew 1-1 in the first half against Serbia and lost narrowly 1-0 to England. It is a coach who knows his players very well. It is a difficult match because someone might say it is an easy opponent on paper, but it is a tough match to play,” Sylvinho emphasized.
Regarding the lineup, Sylvinho said.
“Until lunchtime, we may have decided which players will go on the field. More than the formation, I focus on the different characteristics of the players. We have worked these three days we’ve been in training. These are two different things. Andorra’s 5-4-1 is very different from Serbia’s 5-3-2. But as I said, I am more focused on the players’ characteristics, where a player can receive the ball more easily, where there is more space, giving more time to play against the opponent. This is what we have focused on the most. There may be some changes.”
“I am not worried about the formation, but about the players’ characteristics. Which players to put on the field to create spaces for teammates. We have studied them for more than 15 days. They have a different formation, 5-4-1, which differs from Serbia and Latvia. They are a team that does not concede many goals, fights and blocks the lines well. The players know this, we have discussed it. This is the most important element: to put players on the field who can create space and reach the goal,” he added.
Asked if he is concerned that some players have not had many minutes, Sylvinho replied.
“I am very clear about which players can go on the field and score goals. I am not worried about players who have not played much. All players have come in good condition. We have prepared very well in these two days of work. We need to utilize the players’ characteristics. We know that some players score. In nearly three years of this journey, some players have scored the most even for the national team. I am clear on this.”
Captain Berat Gjimshiti emphasized that the team will play to take only three points and secure a World Cup playoff spot for the first time.
“Andorra is considered a difficult opponent, and we value the match against them highly, while also acknowledging the growth of our team in these qualifiers. I also thank the Albanian fans who will be many tomorrow at the match against Andorra,” Gjimshiti said.
Gjimshiti added.
“Of course, we came here with one goal, to take the three points. We need them for the qualifiers. We have watched Andorra’s matches against England and Serbia here, and they have made things very difficult. We will play our football, the game we have played in these qualifiers, as in recent matches. We will go in with great confidence to get the three points, respecting the opponent. Those 90 minutes will be difficult, but we all need to be mentally strong to handle them.”
Asked if he ever imagined 10 years ago that he would have a chance to be part of a World Cup, Gjimshiti said.
“The next match is always very important. Before, it was Serbia; now it is Andorra. I will give my maximum and get these three points so the dream of the playoffs continues. Did I think about it 10 years ago? If you asked me then, no. If you ask me today, yes. I always believe in the team’s abilities and the opportunities football gives you. Everything is possible in football, and this drives us. Everything is achievable, so why not try.”
Asked what this team has in addition to the one from the European Championship, Gjimshiti said.
“Some younger, stronger, and talented players have joined the team. It has made things more difficult for the coach, but easier for the team, because there is more quality. But the coach has a harder job choosing the starting eleven. The quality has improved in many aspects, and the group has been maintained. The group makes everything possible, and I believe this is the most important thing we have.”
When asked if he thinks he will score tomorrow, Gjimshiti said.
“As a defender, I focus on preventing goals. If I get the chance to score, why not. It doesn’t matter to me whether I score; what matters is that the team wins and we reach the playoffs.”
Gjimshiti also delivered a message to the fans, emphasizing.
“When I heard the stadium will be full with our fans, it gives an extra push to win. Thanks to the fans, and we will give our maximum even off the field. I believe and hope we make them happy after the match. That is the most important thing, and I believe we will achieve it.”
