Backed by fanatical, fantastic support, Albania eliminated Romania with flashes of creativity and impregnable defending, leaving an indelible mark both with the celebrations that followed Armando Sadiku’s decisive first-half header and the final whistle.
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The team will have to wait until the group stage of Euro 2016 has been completed before it finds out whether it will be one of the four third place teams to make it through to the round of 16. Albania manager Giovanni De Biasi placed Lorik Cana on the bench as his team set up in a 4-1-4-1 with Sadiku ahead of the midfield. “They give everything, perhaps even a bit much at times”, said Albania coach Gianni De Biasi.
The European football body Uefa has launched disciplinary proceedings against the Albanian and Romanian football federations because of crowd trouble at the match. They spurned chances – against Romania in particular – but finally their first goal at a major tournament arrived.
Albania weren’t to be denied, though, and the breakthrough came two minutes before the interval, with Memushaj involved again.
The win meant that Albania finished on three points and may qualify for the Second Round. May. “We proved we can play these games against top teams with more quality”.
Misfiring Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has found an unlikely ally at Euro 2016 in the form of Albania hero Armando Sadiku.
Romania 0-1 Albania Andone breaks into the box and cracks a shot in the vicinity of Berisha’s near post, which crashes against the frame of the Lazio man’s goal! Straight after that, Albania draws with Denmark and takes one more point.
“This is not the Albanian team I knew when I was young, as 21 of their 23 players ply their trade overseas”, the 66-year-old Iordanescu said.
But they must wait to learn the outcome of the remaining group-stage matches, meaning it will not be until midweek that they discover if they are staying in France or going home. What do Albania do now, with three days of group games remaining?
“This is what we are”, De Biasi said. “I think we grew in confidence tonight”.
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Facing the media after the game, Iordanesu, voted Romania’s Coach of the Century, was accused of orchestrating “the shame of the century”, as a member of the press attacked the manager’s team selection and questioned his future.
