Albania suffered a minimal defeat against Sweden in Stockholm, conceding a goal scored by Nilsson in the 62nd minute. Despite a pleasing performance from the Red and Blacks, they lost a dignified battle. Several key themes emerged during the match, including missed opportunities, a disallowed goal, and a penalty awarded to Armando Broja. At the conclusion of the game, coach Sylvinho shared his thoughts.
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| Sylvinho speaking to media after the defeat against Sweden |
"The players are a bit anxious as 23 of them will be heading to the European Championship. We've had a very good journey, qualifying with strong performances. We should be pleased and happy that we've qualified for the European Championship.
Asani and Bajrami played dual roles from the wings. This squad is young, players like Asllani and Mitaj are gaining experience. We saw that Muçi could have done more, should have been a striker in this case. We also have young players like Muçolli and Hoha who are at the beginning of their careers and can contribute a lot to the National Team.
This is the moment to assess the players; the result is important, but not the most important. Today, we made another performance compared to the one against Kilin. We might have deserved the victory.
Today we tried something different to reach the goal. We had Broja's speed, a penalty denied to us, difficult when playing without VAR as things happen. Broja's speed was crucial today.
Balliu has played several matches with us, against Moldova he was not there as he was injured. He got his minutes.
Am I pleased with the atmosphere of the players in training camp? Absolutely very pleased. The players have a healthy atmosphere and competition. Now they return to their clubs and have two months to prepare. Of course, they have some tension or anxiety about the list, but this is football. The relationship they have with the staff is very good. We've worked a lot in this area, things are said face to face, and that's how we've created a healthy relationship with everyone.
Against Kilin, am I upset? Well, today how do I feel? I'm saddened by the fate that we didn't win or draw. I have nothing to say to the players about what they did on the field. We played with heart, and the fans made us feel at home. We need to transmit the spirit and heart onto the field," said Sylvinho to Supersport.