FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
The Italy-Albania challenge is approaching and a comment about this meeting has been given by the former captain of the Albanian National Team, Lorik Cana. The former Red and Black defender says in an interview for "Tag24" that the real test of Albania starts in the European Championship, while he did not leave Italy without commenting either.
He added that compared to the first Euro qualification, this time, although the group is difficult, the team consists of players who regularly play in important European clubs.
It is an Albania different from the past...
Cana : Albania has nothing to lose, it should focus on its growth path as it did in the qualifying round where it finished first in the group and this should not be taken for granted. There were no big names, but the team did a great job, with Sylvinho able to use the material at hand and that allowed our nation to participate in the European Championship. Unfortunately we ended up in the most difficult group. This puts less pressure on us, but the difficulty is much greater."
You were a defender who knew what you were doing, what else do you expect from this Albania?
Cana : Compared to the first qualification, we have boys who play often and in important clubs. They should do what they have always done, bringing the best performance. Unlike us in 2016, they should have less pressure. When we qualified it was the first time, we felt it more. Now they have to enjoy it without regret, we also have elements who play in Italy and who know the opponent, so it can be an advantage".
Which Albania will we see in this group?
Cana : Albania is at a point where it doesn't have a general reference point, since it hasn't tried its strength with a big team. We saw it in the groups, where we had a subpar Poland and a Czech Republic who are a good team but not big on the continent. Now the bar has been raised and we will see what happens, but Albania still remains a valuable team. We defend very well, with an all-Italian backbone, not to mention that there are also many surprises in terms of names and we have more quality in midfield and in attack. It is important to see the state of Broja. If he's good, he can be explosive.
Asani was a nice surprise, the result of extensive scouting around the world. He has talent.
Cana : This is a strong point because there are many players that can be called up. We have quality and we will have more, we can look for players who have grown up abroad. As for Asan, I hope he continues with goals, what he did in the qualifiers.
You know Italy well, from whom do you expect something important?
Cana : Today more than ever the strength of this Italy will be the group. There is no Totti, Del Piero and Baggio, but they are still the defending champions. Luck may also be able to climb from third best. But apart from that, Italy remains one of the big names in Europe, even if in front of it there is a Spain among the strongest and a Croatia that has made people talk to themselves, even if it is a little "old". But Spalletti's national team remains very strong. There will have to be elements that will have to take the team on their shoulders, like Bastoni in defense, others in midfield, but I expect a great Scamaça who should continue what he has done with Atalanta in the last months because Italy will 'need.
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