Nations League : Israel vs Albania, 20:45 CET

[artan]

Albania has been suffering the same fate the past four years since Reja has been in charge. The lineup constantly has no width or pace, no semblance of a counter attack and we often look like a rugby team trying to get the ball forward. It's the same thing match after match. The fullbacks struggle getting forward, the midfield struggles in possession and hoofs a ball forward since there is no space and the forwards are generally slow and awful goal poachers (with the exception of Broja who has shown to be the exception). The only time where I thought this team looked decent was that loss against Poland at home and the Israel match in June. Both matches we looked threatening offensively and were able to string some quick attacks because Reja inserted wingers in the lineup which gave us width and pace.

A team needs balance juggling between pace, technical ability and defense. Playing four defensive midfielders against Israel is comical and you're pretty much expecting to get dominated in possession (especially when your fullback is Hysaj and forward is Cikaleshi). The bizare lineup selections have been a constant theme for 4 years now whether its Cikaleshi/balaj/Manaj over Broja, Trashi over Balliu, Dermaku over Kumbulla, benching Bajrami, Cikaleshi over Uzuini, etc. Only Albania would have benched Broja, Bajrami and Balliu last campaign for amateurs. You will never see countries desperate for talent like Macedonia, Bosnia, etc, do that shit ever. Also defending has been atrocious despite Reja being extremely conservative. Strakosha, Ismajli, Gym, Hysaj and now Mihaj have made constant amateur mistakes over the years.

This loss is the best thing to happen to us. I wanted us to lose to Belarus in the 2020 Nations League fiinal so this dreadful experiment can end then as getting humbled by Lithuania and Kazakhstan was a huge red flag.

[Dallku]

Even the commentators yesterday were saying that Albania is the much "bigger" team and had the physical advantage.

As the "smaller" Israel tears you to shreds with pure pace and technique for 90 minutes...

Israel gets the ball and they are off to the races. Quick combination, dribbles and direct passes forward. Albania the opposite. Slow, insecure on the ball, passing it backwards out of fear and long ball to here and there. Laci was getting nutmegged left and right..

This was a bad match up because Israel really expose Albania weaknesses the way they play.

[CanaYouDoIt]

Artan is absolutely right, FSHF should have got rid after we barely topped that nations league group. And we on here were after him from that point, 3 years later, we havent progressed and its even more boring football now. 3 more days and its over finally.

[Dallku]

Meanwhile Georgia's 21 year old supertalent. Hard carrying them.

https://twitter.com/EURO2024/status/1573367131466612737

[RedFootballs]

Even the commentators yesterday were saying that Albania is the much "bigger" team and had the physical advantage.

As the "smaller" Israel tears you to shreds with pure pace and technique for 90 minutes...

Israel gets the ball and they are off to the races. Quick combination, dribbles and direct passes forward. Albania the opposite. Slow, insecure on the ball, passing it backwards out of fear and long ball to here and there. Laci was getting nutmegged left and right..

This was a bad match up because Israel really expose Albania weaknesses the way they play.

Israel are nothing special man. Off to the races? Is that how they scored their 2 goals, with stunning fast combinations?

No, it was from ridiculous blunders where our defenders passed the ball to their forwards in dangerous areas, under little pressure.

The sad thing is we can't even rely on guys like Hysaj not to do that anymore clearly, fatal mistakes from him have directly contributed to losses of two crucial games (Poland and yesterday) in the space of a few international breaks.

Sure our tactics sucked but end of the day we don't lose without those two blunders. And they were unforced.

[CanaYouDoIt]

Even the commentators yesterday were saying that Albania is the much "bigger" team and had the physical advantage.

As the "smaller" Israel tears you to shreds with pure pace and technique for 90 minutes...

Israel gets the ball and they are off to the races. Quick combination, dribbles and direct passes forward. Albania the opposite. Slow, insecure on the ball, passing it backwards out of fear and long ball to here and there. Laci was getting nutmegged left and right..

This was a bad match up because Israel really expose Albania weaknesses the way they play.

Israel are nothing special man. Off to the races? Is that how they scored their 2 goals, with stunning fast combinations?

No, it was from ridiculous blunders where our defenders passed the ball to their forwards in dangerous areas, under little pressure.

The sad thing is we can't even rely on guys like Hysaj not to do that anymore clearly, fatal mistakes from him have directly contributed to losses of two crucial games (Poland and yesterday) in the space of a few international breaks.

Sure our tactics sucked but end of the day we don't lose without those two blunders. And they were unforced.

The reason why our blunders hurt so much is because we have little margin of error in our results because of how bad and boring we play.

We didnt create a single chance in the game. Broja stole the ball off their defender and Uzuni scored a goal he wont ever do again. We've seen the same game for 3 years straight. They deserved the win.

[RedFootballs]

Even the commentators yesterday were saying that Albania is the much "bigger" team and had the physical advantage.

As the "smaller" Israel tears you to shreds with pure pace and technique for 90 minutes...

Israel gets the ball and they are off to the races. Quick combination, dribbles and direct passes forward. Albania the opposite. Slow, insecure on the ball, passing it backwards out of fear and long ball to here and there. Laci was getting nutmegged left and right..

This was a bad match up because Israel really expose Albania weaknesses the way they play.

Israel are nothing special man. Off to the races? Is that how they scored their 2 goals, with stunning fast combinations?

No, it was from ridiculous blunders where our defenders passed the ball to their forwards in dangerous areas, under little pressure.

The sad thing is we can't even rely on guys like Hysaj not to do that anymore clearly, fatal mistakes from him have directly contributed to losses of two crucial games (Poland and yesterday) in the space of a few international breaks.

Sure our tactics sucked but end of the day we don't lose without those two blunders. And they were unforced.

The reason why our blunders hurt so much is because we have little margin of error in our results because of how bad and boring we play.

We didnt create a single chance in the game. Broja stole the ball off their defender and Uzuni scored a goal he wont ever do again. We've seen the same game for 3 years straight. They deserved the win.

True. You can't get results every game when you can only score one or no goals. Reja needs to be sacked.

At the same time, these stupid errors are always going to hurt us, even more so as they are often made by players who should know better.

[Dallku]

Israel are nothing special man. Off to the races? Is that how they scored their 2 goals, with stunning fast combinations?

No, it was from ridiculous blunders where our defenders passed the ball to their forwards in dangerous areas, under little pressure.

The sad thing is we can't even rely on guys like Hysaj not to do that anymore clearly, fatal mistakes from him have directly contributed to losses of two crucial games (Poland and yesterday) in the space of a few international breaks.

Sure our tactics sucked but end of the day we don't lose without those two blunders. And they were unforced.

Israel is nothing special but they were clearly the better team. They have an identity and know exactly what they are supposed to do.

Fun fact?? Their clubs actually play the same exact way as their NT. Just pace pace pace. Quick counter attacks. They are shaky defensively so they play to their strengths.

A stat that blew my mind after the game:

Israel had 8 counter attacks

Albania? 0

Away from home as an underdog that should be flipped but it really sums things up...

Albania has an amazing counter attacker (Broja) and has no clue how to use him but it can't be just him either. He needs help. Those chances he created (and should've scored) are because of his superiority he has over most defenders. No one can stop him on a 1v1.

[Princ]

“Në Kombëtare na duhet një si Andi Lila, me agresivitetin e vetë. Mungon motivimi dhe entuziazmi bëjmë gabime individuale.

Nuk shikoj shpirtin që kemi pasur dikur. Nuk e di çfarë ka ndodhur. Evoluimi i futbollit po i qetëson lojtarët e rinj. Ne kur kemi ardhur në Kombëtare, kemi dhënë gjithmonë maksimumin.“ - Hysaj

New generation is soft, bunch of momma boys!

[Dallku]

^ Those are clear shots at Broja and Asllani because everyone else on the field yesterday is literally from Hysaj's generation.

Asllani didn't even play bad at all. Maybe he could've been a little more aggressive? and set piece delivery could've been better I guess. But he's a #6 and was put in an awkward situation.