The President of the Albanian Football Federation, Armand Duka, spoke to the Italian media outlet SportItalia about the National Team’s performance in Group B1 of the UEFA Nations League.
Duka acknowledged that while the group was highly competitive and balanced, Albania failed to achieve its goals in the tournament. He also highlighted the contributions of Albanian players competing in Italy, such as Berat Gjimshiti, Kristjan Asllani, Cristian Shpendi, and Medon Berisha, and shared his optimism about young talents emerging from Albania’s youth teams.
Key Points Discussed:
On the Nations League Performance:
“We didn’t achieve what we aimed for,” Duka admitted. He described the group as intensely contested, with all four teams competing for the top and bottom spots until the final moments of the last match. Ukraine, for example, narrowly benefited from a draw in Tirana to claim the lead. Duka emphasized that bad luck and frequent injuries hampered Albania’s progress throughout the competition.
On Cristian Shpendi:
Cristian Shpendi, a standout in the U-21 National Team, played a crucial role in Albania’s dramatic comeback win against Romania in the qualifiers. Despite his growth and potential, Shpendi missed the October matches due to injury. Duka expressed pride in Shpendi’s development and joy when he scores, particularly for the Albanian National Team.
On Berat Gjimshiti:
Duka praised the Atalanta defender for his remarkable improvement under coach Gian Piero Gasperini, calling his career growth “record-breaking.” Reflecting on Gjimshiti’s progress over the past six years, Duka highlighted his maturity as a player and his leadership at Atalanta.
Advice for Kristjan Asllani:
Kristjan Asllani, currently with Inter Milan, received strong praise from Duka, who described him as a talented and mature player despite his young age (22). Initially, Duka thought Asllani needed more playing time at another club. However, he now believes that Asllani has matured enough to secure a starting position at Inter and trusts that coach Simone Inzaghi will give him the opportunity.
Emerging Talents in Youth Teams:
Duka expressed confidence in the future of Albanian football, highlighting several promising players in the youth ranks:
- U-17: Juventus goalkeeper Rafaele Huli, Sassuolo striker Gabriele Kulla, Juventus forwards Arman Durmishi and Sheji.
- U-19: Inter goalkeeper Alain Taho, Lazio striker Flavio Sulejmani, Teuta’s Ergis Arifi, and Genoa’s Xheto Joi Nuredini.
- U-21: Midfielders Adrion Pajaziti and Feta Fetai, who have already joined the senior National Team, alongside Cristian and Stiven Shpendi, goalkeeper Simon Simoni, and midfielder Medon Berisha.
Duka’s comments reflect optimism for Albania’s footballing future, fueled by the potential of its rising stars.
CREATED by:
“KORÇA BOOM”
