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Euro 2016

 
[monks data]
Portugal national football team
European Championship | Qualifiers
Sep 7, 2014 at 7.45pm UK
 
Albania national football team

Portugal
0-1
AlbaniaAlbania

FT(HT: 0-0)
Balaj (52')

Albania shock Portugal in Euro 2016 qualifier

By , Reporter
Bekim Balaj's goal gives Albania a shock win in their opening Euro 2016 Group I qualifier against Portugal this evening.

Portugal suffered a shock defeat at the hands of Albania in their opening Euro 2016 Group I qualifier this evening.

Albania's forward Odise Roshi (L) vies with Portugal's defender Fabio Coentrao during the UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying football match on September 7, 2014© Getty Images

Paulo Bento's side, without the injured Cristiano Ronaldo, struggled to break down their well-organised opposition, with few chances to speak of in the opening 45 minutes.

Bekim Balaj scored the crucial goal for the away side with a sharp finish on 52 minutes.

Albania had six players booked as they continually frustrated their more illustrious opponents to hold on for a crucial three points.

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Portugal midfielder Joao Moutinho with the ball against Germany in their Euro 2012 match on June 9, 2012
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Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Germany Germany32107
Q Switzerland Switzerland31205
3 Hungary Hungary31023
4 Scotland flag Scotland30121

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Spain Spain33009
Q Italy Italy31114
3 Croatia Croatia30212
4 Albania national flag Albania30121

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England31205
Q Denmark Denmark30303
Q Slovenia Slovenia30303
4 Serbia Serbia30212

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Austria Austria32016
Q France France31205
Q Netherlands Netherlands31114
4 Poland Poland30121

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Romania Romania31114
Q Belgium Belgium31114
Q Slovakia Slovakia31114
4 Ukraine Ukraine31114

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal32016
Q Turkey Turkey32016
Q Georgia Georgia31114
4 Czech Republic Czech Republic30121
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