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Facing Spain, BBC: Albania, ready to make history against Spain

Facing Spain, BBC: Albania, ready to make history against Spain

Albania and Spain play today at 21:00 for the last match in Group B of Euro 2024.

Meanwhile, the BBC has dedicated an article to the national team, praising the team led by Sylvinho.

BBC article :

Weak Albania faces one of the favorites to win Euro 2024, Spain, with whom they will play on Monday.

The Albanians remain "ambitious" as they seek to secure an elimination point for the first time in their history.

Spain has already qualified from Group B as winners, while Albania is third with one point.

Albania lost to Italy despite scoring the fastest goal in European history and then holding Croatia to a 2-2 draw, a dramatic late equalizer.

Coach Sylvinho says that his team "will fight" against Spain.

He said: “They are a strong team and we have a tough game ahead of us. But we will make it."

"We have brave players who are ambitious and we look forward to playing well against them," he added.

The striker of Albania, Arbër Hoxha, said that Spain is "the best team in this group, and not only, but also of the whole tournament".

Sylvinho's side, who failed to get out of the Euro 2016 group stage under De Biasi, are in a difficult position but the Brazilian said his side are "proud" of their performance in Germany so far and wants to take it a step further.

"There are three million Albanians in Albania and more than nine or 10 million around the world. It was a generation that never saw their team in a European championship," said Sylvinho.

"We're all doing a really good job. We are alive, proud and ambitious. Spain is strong, but we will play our game in the 90 minutes. "We would be happy to play in the last 16, but we have to give our best performance," he added.

"Albania has already created a surprise"

Spain's qualification for the last 16 has already been confirmed, but coach Luis de la Fuente described the match with Albania as difficult.

"Albania has fantastic fans and has already created a surprise here," said the Spain boss.

"We will approach this game as we have in all the others, as if it is our last. Of course, we have a game plan for the players we think are suitable for this game. We are only focused on winning because we want to win every game," he added.

Albania can take second place if they beat Spain and Croatia beat Italy, although if Croatia's margin of victory is two goals greater than Albania's, they would take second place.

Even if Albania fails to finish in the top two, they still have a hope as one of the top four third place teams.

Team news Albania - Spain

Albania will be without striker Mirlind Daku, who has been banned for two matches after directing his country's fans to insulting chants. Klaus Gjasula has a knock but should be available, while Rey Manaj and Enea Mihaj have both recovered from injuries.

Spain coach De la Fuente hinted at a possible rotation, saying "the last thing we want is injuries" in his pre-match press conference.

Spain has won all eight previous encounters with Albania (31 goals, 3 against). It is Spain's best 100% record against any opponent, along with Liechtenstein and Malta, who they have faced and beaten on eight occasions.

Albania has conceded at least twice in its eight meetings with Spain in all competitions. Their 9-0 defeat against them in a Euro qualifier in December 1990 remains their biggest ever competitive defeat.

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