TIRANA, March 19 /ATA/ – By I. Vata/ – Ahead of the friendly match Albania vs. Norway, which is due on March 26 at “Elbasan Arena” stadium, the coach of national football team Christian Panucci is full of optimism for the team.
On eve of the friendly with Norway on March 26, the coach of national football team Christian Panucci gave a news conference which focused on the list of the players gathered for the match and many other issues surrounding the national team.
Panucci said that the core of the team has been established, yet until June he would scout for other elements to shape the team that will play in the European Championship qualifiers.
We have established the core of 20 players, however we will work to shape the entire team, such as finding a replacement for Agolli because I feel compelled to find an alternative due to his age.
“I am a little concerned over the fact that the players are not playing much with their clubs. That was the reason I decided to play a single friendly and work for one week with the players who have been called up,” Panucci told a news conference on Monday.
Two of the new entries come from the Albanian Superliga and two others from the Swiss and Croatian top leagues. Kristal Abazaj, the 21-year-old Luftetari striker who has scored eight goals in the Albanian Superliga this season, is the surprise name on Panucci’s 24-man list, receiving his first call.
Albania will play Norway at the Elbasan Arena stadium on Monday, March 26 at 19:00 local time.
Norway are a team that Albania have played four times in the past two decades in the Euro and World Cup qualification campaigns, having won one game and drawn twice.
Both Albania and Norway failed to make it to the 2020 Russia World Cup. The national football team will start gathering on Monday evening at Tropikal resort in Durres to start the training sessions on Tuesday at 15.30. /a.g/sm/
