Albania's Euro 2024 squad will come around before you know it, and the Balkan nation now know their opponents for the finals in Germany.
The country's only major tournament to date was Euro 2016, where they finished third in their group and narrowly missed out on a place in the last 16. They've now reached Euro 2024 as well, thanks to a strong qualifying campaign which saw them top their group for the first time ever.
Coached by former Arsenal, Barcelona and Brazil defender Sylvinho, the Eagles will face a tough trio of opponents in Spain, Croatia and holders Italy in Group B.
March Friendly defeats to Chile and Sweden weren't the best preparation, but Albania will still have hopes of ruffling a few feathers and reaching the knockout stage – as they almost did in 2016.
As with every team taking part in the tournament, FourFourTwo will bring you all the latest on Albania as we report live from the European Championship.
Albania's squad
Albania Euro 2024 squad: The squad for the March friendlies against Chile and Sweden
GK: Alen Sherri (Egnatia)
GK: Elhan Kastrati (Cittadella)
GK: Thomas Strakosha (Brentford)
DF: Ivan Balliu (Rayo Vallecano)
DF: Mario Mitaj (Lokomotiv Moscow)
DF: Elseid Hysaj (Lazio)
DF: Frederic Veseli (Fatih Karagumruk)
DF: Berat Djimsiti (Atalanta)
DF: Enea Mihaj (Famalicao)
DF: Jon Mersinaj (Lokomotiva)
DF: Marash Kumbulla (Sassuolo)
DF: Naser Aliji (Voluntari)
MF: Keide Bare (Espanyol)
MF: Nedim Bajrami (Sassuolo)
MF: Qazim Laci (Sparta Prague)
MF: Yiber Ramadani (Lecce)
MF: Kristjan Asllani (Inter Milan)
FW: Rey Manaj (Sivasspor)
FW: Jasir Asani (Gwangju FC)
FW: Taulant Seferi (Baniyas)
FW: Sokol Cikalleshi (Konyaspor)
FW: Ernest Muci (Besiktas)
FW: Arbnor Mucolli (IFK Goteborg)
FW: Armando Broja (Fulham on loan from Chelsea)
FW: Arber Hoxha (Dinamo Zagreb)
Albania Euro 2024 squad numbers
Squad numbers are yet to be confirmed for Euro 2024.
Albania manager: Sylvinho
Sylvinho recently celebrated a year in charge of Albania (Image credit: Getty Images)
A two-time Champions League winner with Barcelona as a player, Sylvinho was named Albania boss in January 2023 – following spells in charge of Lyon and Corinthians.
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The ex-Brazil international was successful in completing his task of qualifying for Euro 2024, finishing top of a group containing Poland and Czech Republic.
Albania's star player
Elseid Hysaj
Elseid Hysaj (Image credit: Getty Images)
One of Albania's most-capped players of all time, right-back Elseid Hysaj has spent his entire career in Serie A – turning out for Empoli, Napoli and Lazio.
Also capable of operating at left-back, he played every minute of every game in Albania's aforementioned Euro 2016 campaign.
FAQs
How many players are Albania allowed to take to Euro 2024?
UEFA confirmed in February that each competing nation will be able to name a final squad of 23 players in their Euro 2024 squads, including a mandatory three goalkeepers.
After a couple of tournaments featuring 26-player teams, UEFA have now reverted from the expanded squad.
National managers were allowed to bring 26 players to 2021's European Championship for the first time at a major tournament, as a special measure brought in due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the fixture congestion, the expanded squads returned for the World Cup. Without those same issues, 23-player squads have made a return.
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Tom Hancock started freelancing for FourFourTwo in April 2019 and has also written for the Premier League and Opta Analyst, among others. He supports Wycombe Wanderers and has a soft spot for Wealdstone. A self-confessed statto, he has been known to watch football with a spreadsheet (or several) open...
