Stats before the Nations League Group B1 match:
Czech Republic – Albania
Kick-off: Friday, October 11, 20:45 (Prague-Letná).
Referees: Bastien – Zakrani, Berthomieu – Millot (video, all Fr.).
FIFA Ranking: 46th – 67th
Balance:
Czech Republic (Czechoslovakia) – Albania: 8 4-1-3 14:11.
Czech Republic – Albania: 3 1-1-1 4:5.
Czechia total balance: 343 182-66-95 611:352.
Czech Republic under coach Hašek: 14 8-3-3 34:18.
Last match between them (European Championship qualification, October 12, 2023, Tirana):
Albania – Czech Republic 3:0 (1:0)
Goals: 51st and 73rd Seferi, 9th Asani. Referees: Makkelie – Steegstra, De Vries – Dieperink (video, all Netherlands). ŽK: N. Bajrami – Chytil, Coufal, Provod. CK: 40. Caught (Czech Republic). Spectators: 22,500.
Assemblies:
Albania: Berisha – Hysaj, Ajeti, Djimsiti, Mitaj – Asllani, Ramadani – Asani (54. Muja), N. Bajrami (67. Muci), Seferi (86. Gjasula) – Cikalleshi (67. Daku). Coach: Sylvinho.
Czech Republic: Pavlenka – Holeš (46. Provod), Brabec, Ladislav Krejčí II – Coufal, Souček, M. Sadílek, Jurásek (86. Douděra) – Černý (64. Hložek), Chytil, Kuchta (64. Čvančara). Trainer: Sly.
Expected lineups:
Czechia: Kovář – Coufal, Holeš, Vitík, Bořil – Souček, Červ – Černý, Šulc, Provod – Chorý.
Albania: Strakosha – Hysaj, Kumbulla, Ismajli, Mitaj – Asllani, Ramadani – Asani, Laci, Bajrami – Seferi.
Absence: Ladislav Krejčí II (2 ŽK), Masopust, Ryneš, Schick, Staněk, Vlček, Zelený, Zima (all injured), M. Sadílek (recovery), Douděra (personal reasons) – Bare, M. Berisha, Broja, Djimsiti, Manaj , Uzuni (all injured), Asllani (uncertain start).
Disciplinary threats: Coufal, Černý, Král, Souček, Vitík, Zelený – Asani, Strakosha, Uzuni (all 1 ŽK).
The best scorers from the current nomination: Souček (14) – Asani, N. Bajrami (both 5).
Top scorers in the ongoing League of Nations: Šulc (2) – Asani, Ismajli (both 1).
Points of interest:
– Since the division of the federation, the Czech Republic has won only the first of 3 matches against Albania
– Last year, the Czech Republic drew 1:1 at home and lost 0:3 away from home in the last mutual duels with Albania in the qualification for the European Championship
– The Czech Republic (including Czechoslovakia) did not lose in 4 home matches against Albania (including 3 victories)
– The Czech Republic suffered a 1:4 defeat in Georgia at the start of the new season of the League of Nations in September and then beat Ukraine 3:2 at home
– At the beginning of the group, Albania won over Ukraine in its asylum in Prague at Letná 2:1 and then lost to Georgia 0:1 at home
– Last time, the Czech Republic won for the first time after 4 matches and after an unsuccessful EC, where in 3 matches they lost only a point for a draw with Georgia
– The Czech Republic has lost only one of its last 20 home matches
– The Czech Republic has won all 3 home matches since the arrival of coach Hašek
– The Czech Republic was relegated from League A last time in the League of Nations and is playing in Group B for the third time in 4 seasons
– Albania have won only one of their last 5 matches
– Albania have lost only one of their last 5 away matches
– Albania is playing Group B in the League of Nations for the second time
– Albania, like the Czech Republic, did not advance from the group at the European Championship and lost only one point from 3 matches
– Albania has appeared twice at a major tournament so far, at the European Championship in 2016 and this year they did not advance from the group
– goalkeepers Jedlička and Kinský (both Czech Republic) can claim their first start for the representative A-team
– Laci and Tuci (both Albania) operate in Sparta
– Černý (Czech Republic) and N. Bajrami (Albania) are teammates in Glasgow Rangers
– Král (Czech Republic) and Kumbulla (Albania) are teammates at Español Barcelona
Source: www.ceskenoviny.cz
