The Albanian national team will play tomorrow at 20:45 against Andorra at the “FAF” stadium, one of the most important matches of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. A match where only three points count and the chances of advancing to the play-offs of a World Cup for the first time are very high.
On the eve of this challenge, coach Silvinjo and captain Berat Gjimshiti appeared at the official media conference, held this afternoon at the stadium where the match will be held.
Coach Silvinjo praised Andorra as a strong and organized team, but emphasized that Albania will enter the field to win, using the characteristics of the players and maintaining the calm and balance of the team. He added that the preparations have gone very well and all the players are in good physical condition.
What do you expect from tomorrow’s match? – They are two different matches. The Andorra coach has a lot of time with the team and knows the team very well. The backroom department is very good and he gets the most out of his team. They are a team that concedes a maximum of two goals, and we have seen this in other matches that we have analyzed with other opponents. Even in Tirana it was difficult at the beginning. Then we scored and were a little calmer. We have seen it in other matches, a draw, the first 45 minutes in the last match with Serbia was 1-1. This shows that they are a difficult team to beat. They are a team that fights for every ball. I hope we can win tomorrow.
Have you analyzed Andorra and do you believe that Albania can go to the World Cup? – In fact, we are growing a lot as a Federation. While we grow, others grow too. This is seen in the results we have had in the qualifiers, in the European Championship and now in the World Cup qualifiers. The differences in football are getting smaller and smaller. When you play abroad, it is certainly a little more difficult than playing at home. Statistics show us that we have better results when we play indoors. The play-offs are a difficult step. We are in a good situation that we have never had before in history. I hope that tomorrow we will have a very good match.
Tomorrow’s match, how will we play? – The team will be the same as always, in terms of the spirit of the competition and the way it is built, how the dressing 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 construction of the team may be a little different. But this depends on the characteristics of the team we face. The obligation to win has started since the match with Latvia. This is the third match that we are obliged to win. We have created a balanced team. As Gjimshiti said, we concede little, we are a team that maintains calm and this gives us balance to go for the goal. It will be a difficult match, but it will be the same team spirit as we had at the start of the qualifiers.
You had little time to prepare for this match. How much does this affect you? Have you instilled the right mentality in your players to win this match against the easiest opponent on paper? – 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, we did more video analysis and we communicated with the players all the time. During dinner, in meetings, giving the right messages. I see the players very motivated, focused on what we have to do in the match. We also have a training session today. As for the coach’s responsibility, it’s actually the responsibility of the entire staff, but I always take it. The players know that they have to go on the field and give their best. As for the tactical part and match management, this is the most important element. We have to focus on managing 90 very difficult minutes, against a team that drew 1-1 in the first half with Serbia and was narrowly defeated 1-0 by England. He is a coach who knows his players very well. It’s a difficult match because one might say it’s an easy opponent on paper, but it’s a difficult match to play.
What scheme will you play tomorrow? – Tomorrow, by lunchtime, we may have decided on the players who will enter the field. More than the module, I focus on the different characteristics of the player. We have been working on these three days that we have been in training. They are two different things. An Andorran 5-4-1 is very different from a Serbian 5-3-2. But, as I said, I am more focused on the characteristics of the player, where a player can get the ball more easily, where there is more space that gives him more time to make the opponent’s play. This is the element we have focused on more. There may be some changes.
I’m not worried about the module, but about the characteristics of the players. Which players to put on the field, to create spaces for teammates. We studied them as an opponent for more than 15 days. There is a different module, 5-4-1, which is different from the module that Serbia and Latvia had. It is a team that does not concede many goals, fights and blocks the lines very well. The players know it, we have talked about this. This is the most important element, to put on the field players who can create spaces and can go to the goal.
Are you worried that some players don’t have minutes? – I am very clear about who are the players who can enter the field and who can score goals. I am not worried about the players who have not been able to play much. All the players have come in well physically. We have prepared very well in these two days of work. We must use the characteristics of the players. We know that we have some players who score. In almost three years of journey, there are some players who have scored more goals with the National Team. I am clear about that.
What is your position when there is a conflict between the club and the federation (Lamine Yamal case)? – Time passes very quickly and I have been part of the technical staffs of various teams for several years, as well as the Brazilian National Team, now as the first coach of Albania. I see it as a showdown of strength, where the players are in the middle. I have experienced these situations before, but there comes a moment when you have to agree to some extent. There are many matches that the players have to play, and this is the discussion that often circulates in UEFA and FIFA, here the player remains in the middle. I continue to hold the opinion that there are many matches, on Wednesday, on Sunday, then the National Team training… the same rhythm returns again. I believe that there are many matches for the players.
Captain Berat Gjimshiti emphasized that the team will play tomorrow to get only three points and secure the World Championship play-off for the first time. He considers Andorra a difficult opponent, highly appreciating the confrontation with them, while also appreciating the growth of our team in these qualifiers. Captain Gjimshiti also thanks the Albanian fans who will be in large numbers tomorrow in the confrontation with Andorra
Important match against Andorra, what will we try tomorrow? Have you studied it? – Of course, we came here for a purpose, to get the three points. We need them for the qualifiers. We have seen Andorra’s matches against England and Serbia here, which put them in a lot of difficulty. We will play our football, the same game we played in these qualifiers, like in the last matches. We will enter with great confidence to get the three points, we will respect the opponent. Those 90 minutes will be difficult moments, but we must all be mentally very strong to cope with it.
Did you think 10 years ago that you would be playing your chances of being part of a World Cup? – The match is very important. In fact, the next match is always important. Before Serbia it was Serbia, now it is Andorra. We will give our maximum and get these three points so that the dream of the play-offs continues. Did I think about it 10 years ago? If you asked me 10 years ago, no. If you ask me today, yes. I always believe in the team’s capabilities and the opportunities that football gives you. Everything is possible in football and this pushes us in football. Everything is achievable and why not try.
What advantages does this team have compared to the European team? – Some new, stronger and more talented players have joined the team. They have made the coach’s job more difficult, they have made it easier for the team, because there is more quality. But the coach has a harder time with the starting 11. The quality has increased in many aspects and the group has been maintained. The group makes everything possible and I believe it is the most important thing we have.
Do you think you’ll score tomorrow? – As a defender, I enter the game so that we don’t concede a goal. If I get the chance to score, why not. It doesn’t matter to me if I score, for me it’s important that the team wins and we go to the playoffs.
Tomorrow the stadium will be red and black. A message to the fans – When I heard that it will be full of our fans, it gives us a bigger push to win. Thanks to the fans and to give our best on and off the field. I believe and hope that we will make them happy after the match. This is the most important thing and I believe that we will achieve it.