The Albanian national football team will play its next match in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers tomorrow, facing off against Latvia in what is shaping up to be a crucial clash for the Red and Blacks. The team arrived in Riga yesterday and is scheduled to hold its final training session this evening ahead of Tuesday's encounter.
At the official pre-match press conference held at the stadium, head coach Sylvinho and midfielder Kristjan Asllani shared their insights and expectations with the media.
Asllani: “Victory is a must – we’re here to collect three points”
Kristjan Asllani, the Inter Milan midfielder, underlined the importance of the upcoming match and emphasized that only a win will keep Albania’s World Cup dreams alive.
“We need to recharge because we come from a very positive performance in our last game. We played well, we just lacked the goal. We know it’s going to be tough, but we need the three points for our objective. We’re here to win,” said Asllani.
He also spoke about facing his former Empoli teammate, Dmitrijs Zelenkovs:
“I remember him very well. We spent two years together at Empoli. He’s technically gifted. I’m happy to see him again after 3-4 years. I’ll probably ask him for his shirt after the game. Hopefully, we’ll win.”
Sylvinho: “There’s pressure, but the team is better prepared”
Coach Sylvinho praised Latvia’s strengths and warned that Albania must be ready for a physical and tactical battle.
“Latvia is a very physical team with tall, strong players. They play structured football with a variety of systems, like 3-5-2 or 3-4-3. Their coach is Italian, and they’re tactically organized. It’s going to be a tough match,” he said.
He acknowledged the pressure surrounding the game but believes the squad is now more experienced and emotionally resilient:
“There’s pressure. When you play for the national team, pressure is always there. We’ve played three matches so far, and five more remain. We need to collect as many points as possible. This match is important for both teams.”
Gjimshiti out, squad depth gives Sylvinho tactical options
The coach also addressed the absence of captain Berat Gjimshiti and discussed the flexibility he has in selecting the starting eleven:
“The second match is always more difficult in terms of recovery and squad management. We haven’t finalized the lineup yet; we’ll have a light session later and a clearer picture by tomorrow morning. The good thing is we have 22–23 players available who can cover multiple positions.”
He mentioned several key players being considered: Muçi, Uzuni, Pajaziti, Ramadani, Broja, Asani, Daku, among others.
Regarding striker Rey Manaj, Sylvinho added:
“He’s an experienced player, and I’ve known him since his Inter days in 2014. He has great character. But when it comes to decisions like penalty takers, that responsibility is mine as the coach.”
Mitaj, Bajrami, and the captain’s armband
When asked about possibly using Mario Mitaj in midfield, Sylvinho clarified:
“He’s a technically skilled player who brings balance to the team. But in the national team setup, there’s little time to experiment. His natural position is left-back, and that’s where he’ll stay for now.”
As for Adrian Bajrami, the coach confirmed the Benfica defender will be included in the 23-man squad for the match.
“He’s a strong left-footed defender who’s developing well. He’ll be in the 23-man squad for tomorrow.”
On who will wear the captain’s armband:
“We have two or three candidates. It will be decided after tonight’s training session. The second match in a short window doesn’t give much time to make decisions.”
With high stakes and limited room for error, Albania approaches tomorrow’s match against Latvia with clear intent: win and stay in the race for World Cup qualification. Despite the pressure and key absences, the squad is united, focused, and motivated to bring home the three points.