Albania are just one of the 24 teams taking part at the Euros 2024 in Germany. Here’s everything you need to know about the team, who shared a group with Croatia, Italy and Spain!

1. Their first game was in 1946

The Albanian Football Federation was created in 1930, but the national team didn’t play their first official game until 16 years later. They played Yugoslavia in their capital city Tirana, but were beaten 3-2 on October 7, 1946.

2. The two-headed eagle on their flag inspired their team badge

You can spot what inspired their badge, can’t you? The crest features a two-headed eagle from the national flag. FSHF, meanwhile, stands for Federata Shqiptare e Futbollit (Football Federation of Albania).

3. The team play their home games in Tirana

The team play their home fixtures in the capital city’s stadium, known as Arena Kombëtare. It has a capacity of 22,500.

4. Their captain is Berat Djimsiti

Berat Djimsiti is a centre back who currently plays for Italian Serie A team Atalanta. In 2014, he turned down the chance to play for Kosovo, opting to represent Albania instead. He was born in Switzerland to an Albanian family, which made him eligible for the national side.

5. Their nickname is The Red and Blacks

 The Albanian football team are known as Kuqezinjtë (which means ‘The Red and Blacks’). It’s a great combination of colours for any occasion, if you ask us. 

6. Their rivals are Kosovo and Serbia

Albanian fixtures against neighbours Kosovo is known as the Brotherly derby, but their fiercest rivals are Serbia.

7. Lorik Cana is their most-capped player

Lorik Cana played 93 times for Albania and scored 1 goal. During his career, he played for Paris Saint-Germain, Marseille, Sunderland, Galatasaray, Lazio and Nantes before retiring in 2016. He is now an ambassador for children’s football in Albania.

8. Erjon Bogdani is the team’s highest scorer

Erjon Bogdani is currently Albania’s U19 coach, but is in the history books for representing his country 75 times. During his international career, he scored 18 goals.

9. They’re placed 66 in the FIFA World Rankings

In June 2024, Albania were ranked the 66th best men’s team in the world, according to FIFA, but were once ranked 22nd in 2015. The world’s number 1 is Argentina, thanks to their 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

10. They probably don’t want to be reminded of their biggest defeat

In 1950, Albanian were beaten 12-0 by Hungary at the Megyeri uti Stadion. A crowd of 38,000 witnessed the goal festival and goalkeeper Sulejman Maliqat said, “We faced an extraordinary team” and blamed a grueling, long train journey for their performance in Budapest.

11. They’ve been know to score a fair bit, too

Albania’s biggest win happened in 2003 in a game against Vietnam. The friendly took place in Bastia Umbra in Italy.

12. Their head coach is Sylvio Mendes Campos Júnior

The Brazilian former player has coached the national men’s side since 2023. During his playing days, the left back represented Corinthians, Arsenal, Celta Vigo, Barcelona and Manchester City.

13. Albania scored the fastest ever goal at Euros 2024

We feel sorry for anyone who were getting settled to watch Albania’s first Euros 2024 game against Italy. With just 23 seconds on the clock, Nedim Bajrami poked the ball to take the team into a very early lead. “To score for Albania at a Euro was a dream for me,” Bajrami told reporters after the game. “I dreamt of this as a kid and worked hard for it.”

14. They’re yet to win a major trophy

They may not have won the World Cup or the European Championships, but they did win the Balkan Cup in 1946 and the Malta International Tournament in 2000.

15. They’ve played in the Euros twice

Albanian took part in their first-ever Euros in France in 2016, and qualified again 8 years later in Germany. They were knocked out in the 2024 group stage, despite playing some exciting football. Particularly that first goal against Italy!