Boss Edoardo Reja says Albania need to play against England without fear
Albania boss Edoardo Reja says his team will need to play with personality and without fear as he looks to become the latest Italian to taste success against England at Wembley.
The sides meet in Friday’s World Cup qualifier, their penultimate match in Group I, with unbeaten England top and Albania third in the pool.
Reja’s men were defeated 2-0 by Gareth Southgate’s side in the reverse fixture in Tirana in March, the most recent of a total of five previous encounters between the teams, all of which have ended in England victories.
Albania’s qualifying campaign has also seen them lose twice to second-placed Poland and win each of their five other matches.
Reja was quoted on the Albanian Football Association’s official website as saying at his pre-match press conference on Thursday: “Of course the English are the favourites.
“But we need personality on our part, on the part of the players and the whole team in such a match.
“The field is the same for everyone and we have to play without fear. To make a perfect match, not to make mistakes, because we have been penalised in some matches, especially against Poland.
“Everyone should be perfect, not only the players on the field, but also the substitutes to do their best.”
The contest will be England’s final match of the calendar year at Wembley, where in July they were beaten on penalties by Roberto Mancini’s Italy in the Euros final after a 1-1 draw over 120 minutes.
Italy also triumphed over the Three Lions at the old Wembley in a friendly in 1973, with the only goal being scored by Fabio Capello – who would go on to become England manager.
And Reja said: “I thought about Mancini, that Italy has won here.
“He has opened the way for us as he brings luck to Italy and the Italians. Maybe fate will come back to us too.
“I had predicted a winning England (in the Euros final), but Italy deserved it. After the first goal it seemed that England would make another three or four but then it was closed, Italy did well and deserved to win. We wish that tomorrow fate is on our side, that there is always a first time.
“Wembley is the temple of football, I have known this reality for many years.
“I am very much a friend of Capello and he has shown me what Wembley represents for international football so I will be excited.
“Mancini won, Capello scored and Italy won 1-0 here. There is no two without three, so we hope that the result will come for us as well. I know it would be hard, but miracles do happen occasionally.”
Albania – 58 spots below fifth-placed England in the world rankings – are five points behind Southgate’s men and two behind Poland. After Friday’s game, they conclude their group fixtures by hosting Andorra on Monday.
England vs Andorra
Albania boss Edoardo Reja says his team will need to play with personality and without fear as he looks to become the latest Italian to taste success against England at Wembley.
The sides meet in Friday’s World Cup qualifier, their penultimate match in Group I, with unbeaten England top and Albania third in the pool.
Reja’s men were defeated 2-0 by Gareth Southgate’s side in the reverse fixture in Tirana in March, the most recent of a total of five previous encounters between the teams, all of which have ended in England victories.
Albania’s qualifying campaign has also seen them lose twice to second-placed Poland and win each of their five other matches.
Reja was quoted on the Albanian Football Association’s official website as saying at his pre-match press conference on Thursday: “Of course the English are the favourites.
“But we need personality on our part, on the part of the players and the whole team in such a match.
“The field is the same for everyone and we have to play without fear. To make a perfect match, not to make mistakes, because we have been penalised in some matches, especially against Poland.
“Everyone should be perfect, not only the players on the field, but also the substitutes to do their best.”
The contest will be England’s final match of the calendar year at Wembley, where in July they were beaten on penalties by Roberto Mancini’s Italy in the Euros final after a 1-1 draw over 120 minutes.
Italy also triumphed over the Three Lions at the old Wembley in a friendly in 1973, with the only goal being scored by Fabio Capello – who would go on to become England manager.
And Reja said: “I thought about Mancini, that Italy has won here.
“He has opened the way for us as he brings luck to Italy and the Italians. Maybe fate will come back to us too.
“I had predicted a winning England (in the Euros final), but Italy deserved it. After the first goal it seemed that England would make another three or four but then it was closed, Italy did well and deserved to win. We wish that tomorrow fate is on our side, that there is always a first time.
“Wembley is the temple of football, I have known this reality for many years.
“I am very much a friend of Capello and he has shown me what Wembley represents for international football so I will be excited.
“Mancini won, Capello scored and Italy won 1-0 here. There is no two without three, so we hope that the result will come for us as well. I know it would be hard, but miracles do happen occasionally.”
Albania – 58 spots below fifth-placed England in the world rankings – are five points behind Southgate’s men and two behind Poland. After Friday’s game, they conclude their group fixtures by hosting Andorra on Monday.
Head to Head Comparison
England - Last 5 Matches
Albania - Last 5 Matches