On Monday, the Albanian national football team coach, Sylvinho, held a press conference following the release of the preliminary squad list for the UEFA Euro 2024 finals in Germany. He expressed his pride in reaching this milestone and preparing to compete in the European Championship finals. On behalf of himself and his coaching staff, Sylvinho extended gratitude to all the players who contributed during the qualification stages, Albanian Football Federation reports.
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"First and foremost, I want to express my pride in being the coach of the national team at the Euro 2024 finals. It's incredibly important for me and my staff to say a few words. I want to thank all the players who have journeyed with us to this point. Maximum respect to all of them. Our selections are based on studies, analyses, the individual and collective characteristics of each player, and the scenarios we will face in the Euro finals. As a coach, it's my responsibility to choose the players, and unfortunately, I can't take everyone. I have made every effort to do what's best for this team. We are going to Germany to play for 3 million Albanians living here and more than 10 million who live beyond Albania's borders," said Sylvinho.
Sylvinho then commented on the preliminary squad list of 27 players selected for the Euro 2024 preparation. The squad includes:
Goalkeepers: Etrit Berisha, Thomas Strakosha, Elhan Kastrati, Simon Simoni
Defenders: Berat Gjimshiti, Elseid Hysaj, Ivan Balliu, Ardian Ismajli, Arlind Ajeti, Naser Aliji, Mario Mitaj, Enea Mihaj, Marash Kumbulla
Midfielders: Amir Abrashi, Kristjan Asllani, Nedim Bajrami, Medon Berisha, Klaus Gjasula, Qazim Laçi, Ernest Muçi, Ylber Ramadani
Forwards: Jasir Asani, Armando Broja, Mirlind Daku, Arbër Hoxha, Rey Manaj, Taulant Seferi
Regarding the limited number of players, Sylvinho explained, "Choosing these players was very difficult for us, and unfortunately, it's impossible to take everyone to Germany. Our choices are based on analyses, tactics, and the characteristics of each player and the group. The Euro finals are different from the qualifiers, where we played eight matches in ten months. In this tournament, we will play three matches in 15 days, and if we score points, we might play more. So, it's a different scenario, and the choices are based on this context."
Sylvinho addressed the absence of key forwards like Cikalleshi and Uzuni and its potential impact on team harmony. He emphasized that working with a national team differs from club work. In March, friendly matches allowed them to evaluate new players. He assured that the national team door remains open for every player at any time and is confident that the current group of 27 players is ready for the journey ahead.