Nah, DS flourished during his time under Max, just like Abate did. What set DS back during the Allegri period was the continuous injuries, just like with SES and many others.

Midfield: You're right, and I'd add completely mediocre to that.

Defence: Good enough for Serie A and shouldn't be having a lot of issues if it weren't for the midfield continuously leaving the back 4 exposed

Attack and GK: Agreed

Well, it's not as bad as the (lack of creativity in our) midfield, that's for sure. I do hope that Romagnoli strings a partnership with someone at the back, and with DeScig and Abate covering the flanks, we will stay solid, if not watertight. That's my hope, though, and a lot of this comes down to whether Romagnoli delivers.

If not, then yes, we're in trouble just like last season when it comes to the central pairing.


True, been a while since we've had a good striker, to be honest. Far too much has beens and players on decline in the past few seasons, so hopefully, action at both ends of the pitch will be a lot more enjoyable from now on. In particular, our goal scoring. I need that.

To be honest, I quite admire Turkey and the way they approach the game. Almost all their matches that I've seen have been entertaining, with the players giving their all. Started liking their NT after World Cup 2002 actually, or during the event, rather. They're a good watch, if not a collection of great players.

Turkey are awesome! <3

Albania 0-1 Portugal

92' Veloso

Very unlucky. Losing in the end like this from a corner kick always sucks. Still, we have very good chances of finishing second. Denmark have only one game left against Portugal away, whereas we have two more games against the last two in the standings, i.e. Serbia and Armenia.

Indeed.

Oh that's bad, would have liked you guys to win at home.

Im pissed. We were very good at second half, especially at the end, we deserved a draw at least. But thats football, maybe this will make the players even more motivated for the game against Serbia. I hope we smash them. We can do it.

I predict that Denmark will draw or lose against Portugal. Can't see them winning away. And we'll win against Serbia and pass through.

Even if they win, we have another game against Armenia. A draw against Serbia and a win against Armenia will get us through.

Albania v Serbia tonight. Super heated match. Not only because of what happened in the previous game, but also because we're playing our chances of qualification. If Denmark don't win against Portugal tonight (very likely) and we beat Serbia, then we're mathematically through with one game to spare. It would be the first time ever that Albania participates in a major football tournament. Fingers crossed!

0-2

What a disappointment. Terrible performance.

Sorry to hear that x-off. Are your chances to make it through now completely over?

No. Still plenty of room to do that I think. But overall, this qualification cycle has been strange to me.

We have to win against Armenia on Sunday. If we do that, we finish second. Otherwise, we're going to have to go through the play-offs, and that's definitely not gonna end well.

These last three games have been totally embarrassing for us in terms of game quality. Our defense overall is not bad. We conceded against both Portugal and Serbia on extra time. However, when it comes to building up play and attacking, we can't make more than three passes in a row. Our midfield is clueless. Our attack is sterile. I guess you can't blame it due to the scarce quality of the players, but at least put some determination damn it! We had the chance to qualify for the first time ever and against Serbia nonetheless. It would have been historical. Yet we played like chickens. Reminds me of the current Milan in so many ways.

Ha, as I was reading I was already planning to write that looks like you're experiencing the same thing with both club and country. You beat me to it with that last sentence

We weren't that bad against Serbia, but we were very unlucky. In my opinion Albania deserves to qualify, if not for anything for the team spirit and determination showed during this tournament. De Biasi installed a new philosophy that is shown in the pitch. We have a great defence and I think that if Mavraj wasn't injured in our last 3 games, we could have gotten better results. Also, if there is a player that doesn't deserve to play that is Agolli. He doesn't even know how to pass a short ball, let alone to make a good cross. That hurts us, so I think Lenjani should play in his place and we play Meha as LMF.

If there is an engine in our team that is Xhaka, his work rate, passing, speed and bravery make him our best player in my opinion. We just need someone who has better passing than Basha in our midfield so we have a very decent midfield too.

As for the attack then I am impressed with Cikalleshi he just needs some support from the midfield and we have a very capable striker who reminds me of Ibrahimovic. I am very optimistic of this Albania and I have no doubt that we will do very good in Euro 2016.

My Albania NT team would be:

---------------------Berisha
------Hysaj --- Cana ---- Mavraj --- Lenjani
--Rroshi ----- Abrashi --- Xhaka ------ Meha
---------------------Gashi
--------------------Cikalleshi

Bro, I think you're letting euphoria get the best out of you. Sure, De Biasi has done some good work, especially in terms of defensive solidity, and it's also true that this is by far our best run in a qualifier stage in our entire history.

However, you also have to look at things objectively. Our run has partially been influenced by the poor form of Denmark and the crappy performances of Serbia, who have far better teams than us. You say we were unlucky in the last two games, but it's also true that we were incredibly lucky to get 6 points against Portugal and Serbia.

Our team has no quality in its game. We've never played a great game except for the second 45 minutes against Armenia at home. All other matches have been us trying to scrap points by defending and hoping to achieve something in counterattack.

All this mirrors the poorness of our roster. We have no talented players in midfield and attack except for maybe Xhaka. Cikalleshi reminds you of Ibrahimovic? C'mon! He reminds me of Matri.

I don't know man, I think you are watching this from a pessimistic perspective. There is no doubt that the NT has grown a lot, just compare it to the NT of some years ago and I don't think that its a surprise that we have a great chance to qualify for the first time in the history. Sure, I know we are not as good as Portugal or Denmark, and if we compare individual players we are even worse than Serbia. But our squad harmony and spirit is at the top and this makes our team very compact and dangerous to face.

We have a very good GK, Hysaj, Cana and Mavraj are quite good too. The same goes to Abrashi. We have a very promising talent like Xhaka who is our best player in my opinion. Gashi should have more time in first time in order for us to be more productive.

By the way, Kosova is playing in a friendly right now against Euqatorial Guinea. I know we are facing a poor side, but man I cant wait till we can play on qualifiers for Euro and World Cup. I am amazed how we are flowing the ball. Btw we are winning right now.

I didn't say we haven't grown compared to the past, of course we have. But at the same time we have great limitations at what we are able to achieve because we don't have many talented players. The names you mentioned are mostly defenders. Abrashi and Gashi are nothing special in my opinion. We terribly lack a quality forward, and at least a couple of decent midfielders.

Here's to hoping we win tomorrow, though after the last game I'm rather pessimistic. My friend told me that the players were ordered to keep calm and be lenient against Serbia due to all the political tension that accompanied the game, but I don't buy into that for a single second. Playing harshly and playing with spirit are two completely different things.

Armenia 0-3 Albania

YES!!! A dream come true. So proud!

Congrats mate!

So happy for you x-off!! Congrats

Thanks guys.

Very young team last night, but we played well and fully deserved the win. We really should've scored more. Just have to hope Roy has the balls to stick with the younger players and not just go with the regulars again.

Is anyone going to the Euros this summer? I have tickets for France-Albania in Marseilles, though I'm kinda worried after the latest terrorist attacks in Brussels.

Yes I'm worried too. It's a big risk and I'm not gonna take it.

No chance

Thing is, I've already bought plane tickets, and my friend is flying from New York. Kinda difficult to cancel at this point...

Surely you can sell, no? I mean, there's probably not gonna be problems, but nevertheless, I'd never take the risk.

Nah, not feasible at this point. We've both made up our mind, especially my friend who's flying from New York. But like you said, it's probably gonna be just fine, even though the risk is always there.

Security should be just fine. Everyone will be on their toes after what recently happened. But I'd recommend you to avoid other big gatherings outside the well protected area: meaning, I'd avoid concerts and parallel manifestations like these.

Indeed.

I just realized, both Verratti and Marchisio won't be part of Italy's NT in the Euros. In other words, they're fucked.

Maybe recall Pirlo one last time?

He's not in the short list, so I doubt it's going to happen.

Italy's midfield for the Euros:

Florenzi - Candreva - Motta - De Rossi - Darmian

Maybe Bonaventura in for Darmian?

Still, the attack seems even worse, no?

Yeah, attack is El Shaarawy, Insigne, Immobile, Pelle, Eder, Zaza and Bernardeschi. Laughable.

Oh Italy, how far you've fallen...

And then you look at Croatia's midfield.

Indeed.

And Silvio wanted to build an Italian Milan...


Still p!ssed off that Conte left Romagnoli out, one of the best CBs from last season and he leaves him out. not to mention taking Udinese's young keeper who barely has 2 caps with Udine and leaving Donna out.

Italy will just have to rely on not conceding and hope that Pelle, Immobile, Insigne, Candreva play to their club best.

I just don't see a tournament coach in Conte. But I could be wrong. These days I'm wrong about everything in football. (Damn you Bertolacci!)

Hmh, I agree with you on that one.

Agree Jack, Conte is someone like Mourinho and Cappello imo, they give their best when they're with the team for an entire season and not in short bursts as is required with a NT.

Bonaventura out of the Euros squad.

Conte has no idea what he's doing anymore. Italy will not even pass the group, mark my words. Probably their weakest team in history.

No Abate? And Berardi? Very strange.

But Gazzetta said Bonaventura is still open/depending on Bernardeschi.

No, the list is definitive.

1 Buffon, 2 De Sciglio, 3 Chiellini, 4 Darmian, 5 Ogbonna, 6 Candreva, 7 Zaza, 8 Florenzi, 9 Pellé, 10 Motta, 11 Immobile, 12 Sirigu, 13 Marchetti, 14 Sturaro, 15 Barzagli, 16 De Rossi, 17 Eder, 18 Parolo, 19 Bonucci, 20 Insigne, 21 Bernardeschi, 22 El Shaarawy, 23 Giaccherini

Yep. His bias towards the Juve players is also very evident

And picking duds like Parolo and Bernardeschi while leaving Bona out it also ridiculous

Not to mention taking Rugani but not Romagnoli


I'm a huge Azzurri fan, but honestly, I just have no connection to this squad.

Pelle, Eder, Sturaro, Giaccherini (FFS), Motto (), Parolo, Bernardeschi, Candreva, Zaza.... They're not exactly names that inspire you.

At least in the past there was the assurance of Pirlo to fall back on. And with Verratti out it's even more depressing

It's not just a bias towards Juventus players. Sassuolo got also neglected.

But I think the point of Conte's callups (not picking Pirlo, leaving out Bona etc.) is that he's trying to form a team. That's what he's been doing since Bari, picking not always the best or most talented players, but molding a unit.

In that case, having Bona or not wouldn't make any difference (and would explain callups like Sirigu or Giaccherini). Perhaps he succeeded? I'm willing to give him a chance to prove his plan and vision for the squad.

That being said, Romagnoli, Abate, hell even Monto, Bona, Berardi and a few others surely would strengthen the team.