Albania national under-20 football team

The Albania national under-20 football team, also known as Albania U20(s), is the national under-20 football team of Albania and is controlled by the Football Association of Albania.

Albania under-20
Nickname(s)Kuq e Zinjtë (The Red and Blacks)
Shqiponjat (The Eagles)
AssociationFederata Shqiptare e Futbollit (FSHF)
ConfederationUEFA (Europe)
Head coachIlias Haxhiraj
CaptainElmir Lekaj
Most capsAmir Rrahmani (5)
Aldo Teqja
Marvin Turtulli
Klaudio Hyseni
Ilir Kastrati
Enis Gavazaj
Maldin Ymeraj
Valon Ahmedi
Erion Hoxhallari
Arben Muskaj
Top scorerArdit Shehaj (1)
Amir Rrahmani
Marvin Turtulli
Klaudio Hyseni
Ilir Kastrati
Klodian Gino
Home stadiumElbasan Arena
Loro Boriçi Stadium
FIFA codeALB
First colours
Second colours
Third colours

The under-20 squad is often cited as a feeder squad to the under-21 squad. Most of the player picked for this team are U-21 internationals already.

Because there is no under-20 competition at UEFA level, Albania's under-20 side has generally only competed when it has qualified for the FIFA U-20 World Cup, which is held every 2 years. Qualification for this competition is achieved in view of performance at the preceding summer's UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship.

Albania have never played a game with the U-20 squad and the team was only formed after an invitation to play in 2009 Mediterranean Games in Pescara, Italy. Then Albania under-20 participated in the next tournament 2013 Mediterranean Games in Mersin, Turkey.

In 2017 the Albanian Football Association decided to "reborn" the under-20 side by assigning a Friendly match against Georgia under-20 side on 14 November 2017 at David Petriashvili Stadium in Tbilisi, Georgia.[1]

History

2009 Mediterranean Games

Group D

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Spain 211052+34
 Tunisia 211043+14
 Albania 200215-40
27 June 2009 2009 Mediterranean Games Albania  1 2  Tunisia Pescara, Italy
17:00 CET Shehaj  23' Report Ben Messaoud  27'
Ayari  35'
Stadium: Stadio Valle Anzuca, Francavilla al Mare
Referee: Fırat Aydınus (Turkey)
29 June 2009 2009 Mediterranean Games Spain  3 0  Albania Pescara, Italy
17:00 CET Kike  11'
Aarón  12'
Botía  77'
Report Stadium: Stadio Valle Anzuca, Francavilla al Mare
Referee: Nikola Dabanović (Montenegro)

Squad

The following players were called up and participated in the 2009 Mediterranean Games football tournament, which began on 25 June in Pescara, Italy.[2]

COACH: Artan Bushati

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Shpëtim Moçka (1989-10-20)20 October 1989 (aged 19) 2 0 Flamurtari Vlorë
12 1GK Ibrahim Bejte (1989-09-15)15 September 1989 (aged 19) 0 0 Lushnja

4 2DF Klodian Samina (1989-01-19)19 January 1989 (aged 20) 2 0 Belasitsa Petrich
2 2DF Indrit Hithi (1990-02-05)5 February 1990 (aged 19) 2 0 Partizani Tirana
3 2DF Ditmar Bicaj (1989-02-26)26 February 1989 (aged 20) 1 0 Belasitsa Petrich
13 2DF Renato Malota (Captain) (1989-06-24)24 June 1989 (aged 20) 2 0 Partizani Tirana
11 2DF Arsen Sykaj (1990-04-11)11 April 1990 (aged 19) 1 0 Vllaznia Shkodër

7 3MF Sokol Cikalleshi (1990-07-27)27 July 1990 (aged 18) 2 0 Besa Kavajë
5 3MF Ganiol Kaçuli (1989-09-22)22 September 1989 (aged 19) 2 0 Elbasani
18 3MF Orgest Gava (1990-03-29)29 March 1990 (aged 19) 2 0 Elbasani
14 3MF Erjon Vuçaj (1990-12-25)25 December 1990 (aged 18) 2 0 Vllaznia Shkodër
8 3MF Sabien Lilaj (1989-02-10)10 February 1989 (aged 20) 2 0 Skënderbeu Korçë
6 3MF Elham Galica (1989-01-30)30 January 1989 (aged 20) 0 0 Flamurtari Vlorë
16 3MF Orjan Xhemalaj (1989-06-07)7 June 1989 (aged 20) 0 0 Teuta Durrës

17 4FW Bekim Balaj (1991-01-11)11 January 1991 (aged 18) 0 0 Vllaznia Shkodër
10 4FW Vilfor Hysa (1989-09-09)9 September 1989 (aged 19) 2 0 Teuta Durrës
9 4FW Ardit Shehaj (1990-09-23)23 September 1990 (aged 18) 2 1 Flamurtari Vlorë
15 4FW Alban Dashi (1989-09-25)25 September 1989 (aged 19) 2 0 Partizani Tirana

2013 Mediterranean Games

Preliminary round - Group A

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Morocco 3 3 0 0 7 2 +5 9
 Turkey 3 2 0 1 8 4 +4 6
 Albania 3 0 1 2 3 6 3 1
 Bosnia and Herzegovina 3 0 1 2 4 10 6 1
Source:
19 June 2013 2013 Mediterranean Games Turkey  2–0  Albania Mersin, Turkey
21:45 CET Aydın  10'
Sazdağı  86'
Report Stadium: Tevfik Sırrı Gür Stadium
Referee: Andrea De Marco (Italy)
21 June 2013 2013 Mediterranean Games Albania  2–2  Bosnia and Herzegovina Mersin, Turkey
18:00 CET Turtulli  61'
Rrahmani  73'
Report Bajić  44'  52' Stadium: Tarsus Şehir Stadı, Tarsus
Referee: Baris Simsek (Turkey)
23 June 2013 2013 Mediterranean Games Morocco  2–1  Albania Mersin, Turkey
21:45 CET Khaloua  33' (pen.)
El Hassouni  58'
Report Gino  47' Stadium: Tevfik Sırrı Gür Stadium
Referee: Alain Bieri (Switzerland)

Classification stage - 5–8 matches

25 June 2013 2013 Mediterranean Games Albania  1–2 (a.e.t.)  North Macedonia Mersin, Turkey
21:00 CET Kastrati  85' (pen.) Report Kostovski  50'
Imeri  6' (extra time)
Stadium: Tevfik Sırrı Gür Stadium
Referee: Nikola Popov (Bulgaria)

Classification stage - 7th place match

26 June 2013 2013 Mediterranean Games Albania  1–3  Italy Mersin, Turkey
18:00 CET Hyseni  82' Report Canotto  20'
Bollino  47'
Gomez  54' (pen.)
Stadium: Tarsus Şehir Stadı, Tarsus
Referee: Khalid Ennouni (Morocco)

Players

Current squad

Manager: Ilir Biturku

The following players were called up for the friendly match against Albania U19 on 20 October 2020

Caps and goals as of 18 October 2020

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1GK Arlis Shala (2000-07-26)26 July 2000 (aged 20) 0 0 KF Llapi
1GK Kristi Qarri (2000-12-13)13 December 2000 (aged 19) 0 0 Vllaznia
1GK Livio Malaj (2001-05-25)25 May 2001 (aged 19) 0 0 FK Partizani

2DF Elmir Lekaj (Captain) (2000-01-18)18 January 2000 (aged 20) 0 0 Vllaznia
2DF Enes Isufi (2000-07-14)14 July 2000 (aged 20) 0 0 Vllaznia
2DF Kristi Malo (2001-04-28)28 April 2001 (aged 19) 0 0 KF Tirana
2DF Redon Dragoshi (2000-03-18)18 March 2000 (aged 20) 0 0 FK Kukësi
2DF Artan Jazxhi (2001-07-06)6 July 2001 (aged 19) 0 0 KF Teuta
2DF Aleksandër Kaçbufi {{{age}}} 0 0 KS Besa Kavajë
2DF Egzon Shimaj (2001-02-27)27 February 2001 (aged 19) 0 0 KS Besa Kavajë

3MF Joan Çela (2000-01-06)6 January 2000 (aged 20) 0 0 Skënderbeu Korçë
3MF Danilo Gecaj (2000-07-21)21 July 2000 (aged 20) 0 0 KF Erzeni Shijak
3MF Aldrit Oshafi (2000-03-26)26 March 2000 (aged 20) 0 0 KF Teuta
3MF Ledio Beqja (2001-06-18)18 June 2001 (aged 19) 0 0 KF Teuta
3MF Arinaldo Rrapaj (2001-08-09)9 August 2001 (aged 19) 0 0 Skënderbeu Korçë
3MF Eraldo Deda {{{age}}} 0 0 KF Vllaznia
3MF Enea Rexhepi {{{age}}} 0 0 KF Partizani

4FW Mario Gjata (2000-07-06)6 July 2000 (aged 20) 0 0 KF Apolonia
4FW Mehdi Çoba (2000-03-09)9 March 2000 (aged 20) 0 0 KF Vllaznia
4FW Franc Marinaj (2001-12-20)20 December 2001 (aged 18) 0 0 KF Partizani
4FW Fatmir Prengaj (2001-05-01)1 May 2001 (aged 19) 0 0 KF Laçi
4FW Zenel Gavazaj (2000-05-02)2 May 2000 (aged 20) 0 0 KF Kukësi
4FW Dejvid Kapllani (2001-06-03)3 June 2001 (aged 19) 0 0 KF Teuta

Recent call-ups

The following players have been called up for Albania U20 squad within the past 12 months.

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Mario Dajsinani (1998-12-23) 23 December 1998 1 0 Erzeni Shijak v.  Georgia, 14 November 2017
GK Angelo Tafa (2000-07-05) 5 July 2000 1 0 AEK Athens v.  Georgia, 14 November 2017
GK Gentian Selmani (1998-03-09) 9 March 1998 0 0 Laçi v.  Georgia, 14 November 2017 PRE

DF Irlian Ceka (1998-03-03) 3 March 1998 1 0 Sambenedettese v.  Georgia, 14 November 2017
DF Amer Duka (1999-01-21) 21 January 1999 1 0 Laçi v.  Georgia, 14 November 2017
DF Ded Bushi (1998-10-02) 2 October 1998 1 0 Laçi v.  Georgia, 14 November 2017

MF Agim Zeka (1998-09-06) 6 September 1998 1 0 Varzim v.  Georgia, 14 November 2017
MF Emir Sahiti (1998-11-29) 29 November 1998 1 0 Unattached v.  Georgia, 14 November 2017
MF Agon Mucolli (1998-09-26) 26 September 1998 1 0 Vejle Boldklub v.  Georgia, 14 November 2017
MF Marco Hoxha (1998-09-22) 22 September 1998 1 0 ArzignanoChiampo v.  Georgia, 14 November 2017
MF Sherif Kallaku (1998-03-01) 1 March 1998 0 0 Laçi v.  Georgia, 14 November 2017 PRE
MF Aleksandro Zaimaj (1998-01-19) 19 January 1998 0 0 PAE Kerkyra v.  Georgia, 14 November 2017 PRE

FW Valdrin Mustafa (1998-03-11) 11 March 1998 1 0 FC Kaiserslautern v.  Georgia, 14 November 2017
FW Rubin Hebaj (1998-07-30) 30 July 1998 1 0 Domžale v.  Georgia, 14 November 2017
FW Armend Aslani (1998-06-23) 23 June 1998 1 0 Akademisk Boldklub v.  Georgia, 14 November 2017
Notes
  • INJ Withdrew due to injury
  • PRE Preliminary squad / standby
  • RET Retired from international football
  • SUS Suspended from national team

Coaching staff

Current coaching staff:[3]

Position Name
Head Coach Ilir Biturku
Assistant Coach Arjan Bellaj
Goalkeeping Coach Alfred Osmani
Athletic Coach Iris Selimi
Team Doctor Erald Derveni
Physiotherapists Gledi Rexha
Physiotherapists Edison Koçi
Base materials Roland Rarani

Tournament history

FIFA U-20 World Cup

Year Round GP W D* L GS GA
1977Did not qualify
1979
1981
1983
1985
1987
1989
1991
1993
1995
1997
1999
2001
2003
2005
2007
2009
2011[4]
2013
2015
2017
2019
2021 To be determined
Total[5]0/23000000

Mediterranean Games - Football

Football at the Mediterranean Games record
Year Round Position GP W D L GS GA
2009Group stage10th200215
2013Group stage8th5014511
Total0/2Best: 8th7016616

See also

References

  1. "NDESHJET E NËNTORIT PËR U-21 DHE U-20" (in Albanian). FSHF. 24 October 2017. Archived from the original on 25 October 2017. Retrieved 24 October 2017. Sektori i Ekipeve kombëtare në FSHF ka tashmë zyrtare edhe daten për ndeshjen miqësore të skuadrës kombëtare U-20, që përfshin lojtarë të datëlindjes U-20, përkatësisht me Gjeorgjinë.
  2. Peskara 2009, Shqipëria zbardh listën e futbollistëve - 2009-06-17 Gazeta Start
  3. Kombëtarja U-21 (Albania national under-21 team) FSHF.org
  4. "FIFA U-20 World Cup - Previous Tournaments". FIFA.com. Retrieved 2013-08-18.
  5. "FIFA U-20 World Cup". FIFA.com.
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