The national Albanian football team led by coach Christian Panucci won 1-0 against Israel, in the opening match of UEFA NATIONS LEAGUE. The Red&Blacks are up to a great start, receiving the first three points thanks to the 55th minute goal of Taulant Xhaka, scoring from outside the keepers area. Albania creating more scoring opportunities, thus receiving a well-deserved victory.
The lineup of Albania: Strakosha, Binaku, Hysaj, Veseli (’84 Mavraj), Djimsiti, Basha, Memushaj, Xhaka, Guri (’46 Balaj), Hyka (c), Gavazaj (’71 Prenga).
After the match, coach Panucci declared: ‘’ For the moment Strakosha is on top form, that’s why I decided for Strakosha. We have two excellent goalkeepers and the goal is the least of my momentarily problems. We have to improve our ball circulation during the defensive phase. Israel had two very dangerous players that put us in a lot of difficulties. We have these players in defense and we have to improve for the upcoming match against Scotland. I am very satisfied with the debut of the three players. Binaku played really well. The same with Guri, even though he played less minutes. I really fancy the movements of Gavazaj. We didn’t serve Guri a lot and for this reason I played Balaj, in order to penetrate with our attack. When you lose there is irritation, when you win you are a hero, after all this is football. I am not playing the victim here but this is the truth. Now we have to canalize our energies and think about the upcoming match against Scotland, and after this challenge we can say that we will fight for the first place or not. I know that the objective of President Duka is the first place in the group, we will make all the efforts and we hope to achieve the objective’’.
