Euro 2016 Group A Preview and Predictions for Albania

Euro 2016 may admittedly remain a matter of months away right in the here and now, but as the international scene seemingly captures everybody’s collective footballing attention with the same amount of energy and passion with every passing year, we’ve decided to continue our Group A predictions with a look Gianni de Biasi’s determined Albanian outfit…

 

CHANCES OF SUCCESS

Well, as Euro 2016 nonetheless represents Albania’s first ever chance to stake their claim at a major international tournament, perhaps it’s fair to say that de Biasi’s team have already done their nation proud in simply qualifying for the upcoming competition itself.

Even if the likes of France, Switzerland and Romania somehow slip up rather dramatically at Euro 2016 this summer, it still remains relatively hard to envisage the Albanians successfully surviving those all-important group-stage matches when all is said and done.

 

ONES TO WATCH

Despite the fact that several Albanian-born players will seemingly be representing their adopted nations as opposed to Gianni de Biasi’s ambitious underdogs at Euro 2016 this summer, Albania still play host to several up and coming talents who could easily serve to impress come the final culmination of the 2015/16 domestic campaign.

Former Sunderland defender – Lorik Cana – will likely be present among the action, but the likes of Rey Manaj and Elseid Hysaj, operating for Inter Milan and Napoli respectively, could indeed begin to show their worth across the entire European scene in general by the time Euro 2016 finally comes around.  

 

FROM THE DUG-OUT

Albania’s Italian born coach – Gianni de Biasi – certainly knows his way around domestic club football, even if he remains somewhat inexperienced upon the ever competitive international scene. The 59-year-old tactician nonetheless led his current team to a fantastic qualifying campaign this past year, resulting in several impressive wins against both Portugal and Serbia on route to claiming their hard-earned place at Euro 2016 this summer.

The Albanians therefore play host to a manager more than worthy of leading their team out at the first major international tournament to include the determined European outfit.

 

ALBANIA’S EURO 2016 PREDICTIONS

Most will seemingly expect Albania to portray something close to the out-in-out whipping boys of Group A within the grand scheme of things, yet because this current Albanian side have nonetheless seen off a series of supposedly superior European giants ahead of this summer’s upcoming competition, perhaps Gianni de Biasi’s team may represent a decent bet to beat at least one of their significant Group A rivals at Euro 2016 this summer.