Albanian Football Forum

redfootballsv2 wrote: Sun May 31, 2026 7:07 pm Mehmeti in this interview told that he is open to playing for Albania, if he is being honest then we should send him a first team callup. He is good enough to justify playing in the first team and getting appearances.

https://x.com/Backheeled/status/2054552172587782540

If he’s open to playing for Albania, I believe he should start..

Game is fast in MLS.. all the other midfielders play in slow paced leagues.

At 1.83m, he is big for the position and maybe still growing.

We have never had a CM with this kind of potential..

redfootballsv2 wrote: Sun May 31, 2026 6:55 pm

I mean, I don't know, might be true, but it seems like every single time these diaspora kids have an excuse as to why they won't play for Albania.

I rate the ones who own it, just say you prefer your home country for X and X reason. But they do this to ensure they can still 'claim' their Albanian heritage and get the love of fans whilst not having to make the actual commitment.

It's the Abedin Januzaj mindset. When you have other options Albania doesn't seem so professional and anything they do annoys you by default.

Albanians are glory hunters by nature. It would take a lot to steal a talent from these bigger/richer nations.

But that's why FSHF at at fault too. You can't treat Adri, Gruda, and talents of that caliber like they are some random amateurs. Not every player is equal. You are already at a disadvantage when it comes to them choosing you so what are you doing to lower that disadvantage?

FSHF operates with an arrogance as if they Brazi and Germany.. For example: In Alban Bushi's recent press conference he said that it would be hard for Gruda to play for the Albanian u21 because they don't play with wingers....

I was watching Greece u21 v Qatar u21..

The Greek players were rolling around wasting time in the 2nd half while down 0-1..

They only woke up a bit after down 0-2..

Too little too late though as they lost 1-2..

Serbia also destroyed by Cape Verde 3-0..

I’m afraid Balkan football is at its lowest point..

Serbia is really the only Balkan team in crisis. They suffer producing technical/creative players. They produce a lot of elite defenders and defensive midfielders but struggle creating chances and they are a very slow team. Easy to defend against.

Every other Balkan team except them and Bulgaria is flourishing. This is the most talented Greek team ever. Their value is near 300k and it's full of young players with crazy potential like Karetsas, Kostoulas, Mouzakitis, etc...

Bosnia, Albania, Kosovo, Turkey, have never been better as well. Croatia still a football factory, Romania stable as always.

Romania was a powerhouse before..

Domestic league and NT very underwhelming compared to what they used to be..

Greece comes off an underwhelming WCQ campaign..

I’m afraid Albania and Kosovo only look decent because the others in the region have declined so badly..

Powerhouse is a stretch but Romania did have their golden generation in the 90s. Even then they only had Hagi surrounded by solid players. Not like they were loaded with stars.

Besides that decade they have always been a fringe qualifying team. Solid and competitive, will fight for qualification but a level below real tournament teams like Croatia, Czechs, etc.

Albania and Kosovo just caught up to the professionalism of the rest of the world. Huge part because of the diaspora. And like everything the game evolved. The technology, tactics, coaching, scouting is superior. It's easier to be competitive nowadays.

The best example of this is Hungary. They were a huge powerhouse in the 1930s because the game was still relatively new/amateurish and not as popular. Once the rest of the world caught up and took it seriously Hungary stayed the same while everyone else (especially the big nations) started surpassing them because of resources alone.

ReyM9 wrote: Mon Jun 01, 2026 3:35 pm Powerhouse is a stretch but Romania did have their golden generation in the 90s. Even then they only had Hagi surrounded by solid players. Not like they were loaded with stars.

Besides that decade they have always been a fringe qualifying team. Solid and competitive, will fight for qualification but a level below real tournament teams like Croatia, Czechs, etc.

In 1986, Steaua was good enough to beat Barcelona in the European Cup final.

In 1989, they went to the final again losing only to a Milan with names like Van Basten, Maldini, Baresi, Gullit, Rijkaard, etc..

Nowadays, Steaua can lose to Inter Club D’Escaldes and get eliminated next round by Shkendija..

I think it probably has to do with demographics (aging population means less young kids) and an outdated system that hasn't evolved much since the 2000s.

I think the most drastic decline is Serbia. 10-20 years ago the gap between them and Albania was massive talent wise. No it's not so much. We're at the point where we are upset if Albania doesn't get the 3 points against Serbia. Their club teams are in decline, the talent on their national team is mediocre. It's not the same talent of the 90s and 2000s.

Bulgaria has also fallen off. Pretty much on the same level as Northern Macedonia.

Croatia might face a decline soon. Their golden generation is gone and I'm not sure if the talent coming through will be as good as the previous. Still have good talent tho just not elite.

Kosovo is obviously on the rise. Even the domestic production of players are decent and having 2 teams going to Conference league is an accomplishment. I'm excited to see what they can do in the next 5 - 10 years domestic and international.

Albania is same as always. Awful domestic league but held together by diaspora. No domestic player development.

Greece is probably technically more talented now than ever? And i know it's outrageous since they won the 2004 euros and constantly qualified for the WC in the 2000s

SugarRey wrote: Tue Jun 02, 2026 10:31 pm

I think the most drastic decline is Serbia. 10-20 years ago the gap between them and Albania was massive talent wise. No it's not so much. We're at the point where we are upset if Albania doesn't get the 3 points against Serbia. Their club teams are in decline, the talent on their national team is mediocre. It's not the same talent of the 90s and 2000s.

No joke... I still remember they had this backline:

Ivanovic(Chelsea)-Vidic(Man United)-Subotic(Dortmund)-Kolarov(Man City)

All guaranteed starters and key players at those clubs btw.. Insanity. They actually underachieved with them too.

ReyM9 wrote: Wed Jun 03, 2026 12:18 am

SugarRey wrote: Tue Jun 02, 2026 10:31 pm

I think the most drastic decline is Serbia. 10-20 years ago the gap between them and Albania was massive talent wise. No it's not so much. We're at the point where we are upset if Albania doesn't get the 3 points against Serbia. Their club teams are in decline, the talent on their national team is mediocre. It's not the same talent of the 90s and 2000s.

No joke... I still remember they had this backline:

Ivanovic(Chelsea)-Vidic(Man United)-Subotic(Dortmund)-Kolarov(Man City)

All guaranteed starters and key players at those clubs btw.. Insanity. They actually underachieved with them too.

And that backline gave up like 6 goals against Argentina in 2006. Goes to show Serbia used to be some of the biggest disappointments in the world. And don't forget guys like Stankovic and Matic (although Matic was a different generation).

And now they don't disappoint they don't have much expectations any more and play like a mid table Serie A team.