The Albanian national football team held its final training session this afternoon at the "Mikheil Meskhi Stadium" in Tbilisi, in preparation for tomorrow’s crucial UEFA Nations League match against Georgia. The session lasted just over an hour and included athletic conditioning, ball control drills, and tactical game scenarios, finishing with shooting practice.
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| Albanian National Team before the match against Georgia, Otober 13, 2024, Georgia |
The players are in good physical condition, with no reported injuries, and all are fully prepared to give their best against Georgia.
The Upcoming Match
The Albania vs. Georgia match, an important encounter in the UEFA Nations League, will take place tomorrow at the "Mikheil Meskhi Stadium" at 18:00 local time.
Coach Sylvinho’s Pre-Match Comments
In a press conference ahead of the match, Albania’s coach, Sylvinho, discussed the challenge posed by Georgia, despite the absence of their key player, Luka Kçorashvili. “Kçorashvili is a great player, but Georgia is a very strong team, tactically organized, and with many skilled players. They are physically and tactically tough, and they counterattack with quality,” Sylvinho said. He emphasized that Georgia’s strength lies in their ability to play with high intensity throughout the game.
Even without Kçorashvili, Sylvinho is aware that the match will be difficult. “Their absence won’t change our approach. They remain a tough team to beat,” he added.
Team Adjustments and Tactics
Reflecting on Albania’s recent match against the Czech Republic, Sylvinho acknowledged that his team had expended significant energy. “We spent a lot of energy against a very physical Czech side,” he remarked, adding that tomorrow’s match will also be challenging. He noted that there are still decisions to be made regarding team selection after a long journey from Prague, but he expressed full confidence in his players. “We have players ready to step in, and we trust them 100%. However, final decisions will be made tomorrow.”
Pressure for Results
Sylvinho acknowledged the pressure for positive results, especially with the group stage approaching its conclusion. "We need to face reality. It's true that any result other than a win won’t help us. We need three points,” he stated, emphasizing the importance of taking points from Georgia to stay competitive in the group. “Tomorrow’s match is crucial. We need to perform at 100%, as both teams are strong. We must secure points, or it will become difficult to achieve our objectives.”
Comparing to Previous Encounters
When asked to compare the upcoming match with Albania’s previous encounter against Georgia, Sylvinho pointed out that the group remains tightly contested, with no easy games. "From the start, I’ve said this group is very balanced. Every match is difficult, and the points will be spread across all teams," he commented. Sylvinho acknowledged that Albania’s loss to Georgia in their previous meeting was in a tight, 50-50 game, and he expects tomorrow’s match to be similarly challenging.
He also praised Georgia’s coach, Willy Sagnol, for his work in building a strong team, mentioning that Georgia's squad includes top European players. “We’ve analyzed the previous match and hope to do things differently this time, but playing away will be tough. What’s most important is to give our all on the field.”
Learning from Other Matches
Sylvinho also referenced Georgia’s recent 50-50 match against Ukraine, praising Georgia's performance despite facing a strong Ukrainian side. He warned that tomorrow’s game would be similarly tight, and any mistake could be costly. “A single mistake can lead to a goal and cost us the match. That’s what happened with Georgia previously. I expect the same level of difficulty tomorrow. We must avoid mistakes, as it will be a tough game for both teams.”
Albania’s squad is fully focused and determined to bring home a positive result from Georgia, knowing that every point is crucial as they pursue their UEFA Nations League objectives.