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Albania national football team
Euro Champ Qualifying | Group Stage
Sep 10, 2023 at 7.45pm UK
Air Albania Stadium
Poland national football team

Albania
2 - 0
Poland

Asani (37'), Daku (62')
Cikalleshi (45+1'), Asllani (45+8'), Strakosha (59'), Veseli (65'), Daku (63'), Muja (75'), Sulejmanov (86')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Bednarek (8'), Bereszynski (45+8'), Kaminski (45+7'), Krychowiak (60'), Kedziora (79'), Wieteska (88')

Preview: Albania vs. Poland - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Sunday's Euro Champ Qualifying clash between Albania and Poland, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

A crucial clash in Euro 2024 qualifying takes place on Sunday, as Albania welcome Group E rivals Poland to Tirana.

After four matches, both teams trail Czech Republic in the race for a top-two finish, which would secure a spot in Germany for next summer - and Poland are a point behind their hosts heading into the weekend.


Match preview

Albania's Nedim Bajrami celebrates scoring their first goal with Taulant Seferi on September 7, 2023© Reuters

Keeping their grip on second spot in the Group E standings, Albania fought out a 1-1 draw with leaders Czech Republic on Thursday, when Nedim Bajrami's equaliser cancelled out a second-half Vaclav Cerny strike at Fortuna Arena.

Though their hosts opened the scoring in the 56th minute, the Eagles struck back soon after, when Bajrami seized on an error and found the top corner to level matters in Prague.

As a result, the Czechs now top a tight group on eight points, followed by Albania on seven; Poland have six, and Moldova five, with only Faroe Islands effectively out of the running.

Sylvinho's side have started in such a manner that dreams of reaching another Euros could be realised, eight years after Albania made the finals for the first and only time at France 2016.

Following a winless UEFA Nations League campaign, the Albanians went up a gear in June's international period, with wins over Moldova and the Faroe Islands both featuring goals from Sassuolo star Bajrami, who now has three in four Euro 2024 qualifiers.

Only the top two in each group will guarantee their ticket for Germany, so ex-Lyon coach Sylvinho will now be keen to keep his team's unbeaten streak intact heading into October's international window.

Poland's Robert Lewandowski celebrates scoring their second goal with teammates on September 7, 2023© Reuters

Though they beat Albania 1-0 in the reverse fixture, Poland have already suffered two defeats in Group E, with a humbling loss to Moldova causing much clamour for change during the summer.

After letting a two-goal lead slip in Chisinau, the Poles reconvened this week with a restorative victory in mind, but it took more time than expected to break down an obdurate Faroe Islands side on Thursday evening.

Despite dominating the ball in Warsaw, Poland again relied on star striker Robert Lewandowski to make the difference, as the Barcelona sharpshooter struck twice during the final 20 minutes to secure a 2-0 win.

Having set out on the road to a potential fifth straight major tournament finals by losing to the Czech Republic in their opener, then later slipped up in Moldova, the team now coached by former Euros winner Fernando Santos still have plenty of work to do in the months ahead.

Nonetheless, victory in Albania would represent a successful September for the 2016 quarter-finalists, and they would also take a place in the all-important top two at their hosts' expense.

Albania Euro Champ Qualifying form:


Albania form (all competitions):


Poland Euro Champ Qualifying form:


Poland form (all competitions):



Team News

Albania coach Sylvinho reacts on September 7, 2023© Reuters

Three days on from their draw with the Czech Republic, a similar Albania XI should start against Poland on Sunday evening, with experienced striker Sokol Cikalleshi leading the line up front.

The 33-year-old is almost assured of selection given Armando Broja's ongoing absence, while Roma defender Marash Kumbulla is another injury absentee for the hosts.

Albania skipper Etrit Berisha should start behind a back four featuring vice-captain Elseid Hysaj, and another Italy-based player, Nedim Bajrami, will aim to add to his tally of three Group F goals from midfield.

While Cikalleshi has scored only 12 times in 55 international appearances, Poland captain Robert Lewandowski now has a record of 27 goals in 35 European qualifiers following his midweek brace against Faroe Islands.

Arkadiusz Milik is again set to join him up front, though Charlotte FC striker Karol Swiderski - who scored the only goal when these teams met in March - is also a contender.

With Nicola Zalewski ruled out by a thigh injury, Bartosz Bereszynski and Matty Cash will battle it out to start at right-back.

Albania possible starting lineup:
Berisha; Hysaj, Ismajli, Djimsiti, Mitaj; Ramadani, Asllani; Asani, Bajrami, Seferi; Cikalleshi

Poland possible starting lineup:
Szczesny; Cash, Kedziora, Bednarek, Kiwior; Skoras, Linetty, Zielinski, Kaminski; Milik, Lewandowski


SM words green background

We say: Albania 1-2 Poland

Poland can do the double over their fellow Eagles, as their superior firepower should separate the sides on Sunday. After some bumps in the road, many pundits' group favourites are bound to get back on track for a trip to Germany next summer - though the hosts will not make life easy amid a febrile atmosphere in Tirana.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 3.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 3.5:data


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Game History

How you voted: Albania vs Poland

Albania
22.1%
Draw
16.0%
Poland
61.8%
131
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Tables header RHS

Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Spain Spain870121
Q Scotland flag Scotland852117
3 Norway Norway832311
4 Georgia Georgia82248
5 Cyprus Cyprus80080

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q France France871022
Q Netherlands Netherlands860218
3 Greece Greece841313
4 Ireland Rep. Ireland82066
5 Gibraltar flag Gibraltar80080

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England862020
Q Italy Italy842214
3 Ukraine Ukraine842214
4 Macedonia N. Macedonia82248
5 Malta flag Malta80080

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Turkey Turkey852117
Q Croatia Croatia851216
3 Wales flag Wales833212
4 Armenia Armenia82248
5 Latvia Latvia81073

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Albania national flag Albania843115
Q Czech Republic Czech Republic843115
3 Poland Poland832311
4 Republic of Moldova Moldova824210
5 Faroe Islands Faroe Islands80262

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Belgium Belgium862020
Q Austria Austria861119
3 Sweden Sweden831410
4 Azerbaijan Azerbaijan82157
5 Estonia Estonia80171

Group G

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Hungary Hungary853018
Q Serbia Serbia842214
3 Montenegro Montenegro832311
4 Lithuania Lithuania81346
5 Bulgaria Bulgaria80444

Group H

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Denmark Denmark1071222
Q Slovenia Slovenia1071222
3 Finland Finland1060418
4 Kazakhstan Kazakhstan1060418
5 Northern Ireland flag N. Ireland103079
6 San Marino flag San Marino1000100

Group I

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Romania Romania1064022
Q Switzerland Switzerland1045117
3 Israel Israel1043315
4 Belarus Belarus1033412
5 Kosovo flag Kosovo1025311
6 Andorra flag Andorra100282

Group J

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal10100030
Q Slovakia Slovakia1071222
3 Luxembourg flag Luxembourg1052317
4 Iceland Iceland1031610
5 Bosnia Bosnia H'vina103079
6 Liechtenstein flag Liechtenstein1000100


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