“We are proud and motivated to represent Albania in the Mediterranean Games. This tournament is more than just a competition—it is a chance to showcase the true character, spirit and mentality of Albanian football. We face a tough group with Italy, Kosovo and Algeria. We respect our opponents, but we are not going there just to participate. Our clear objective is to qualify. Football is decided on the pitch through organization, belief, and hard work, not by names and history. Our squad is young and fresh, featuring players born in 2006, 2007, and 2008 who will form next season’s U-21 national team. This is a vital platform for them to prove their worth against top-level competition. Even though our domestic season has not started yet and we are building match fitness, I am confident we will deliver a strong performance”, said Bushi.

Alban Bushi, the U-21 national team coach, acknowledged that a short preparation time makes their upcoming Saturday match against Italy tough. He stressed that his staff will quickly implement key strategies, treating every game as a final with the ultimate goal of winning the tournament. /gj.m/j.p/p.s./

The red and black coach selected a balanced squad of domestic league veterans and rising international stars. The team blends local talent from the Abissnet Superiore and First Category with players from academies and clubs across the Netherlands, Greece, and Italy.

This tournament gives young Albanian players a great chance to gain international experience. Drawn into Group B, Albania will face Italy, Kosovo, and Algeria. The Red and Blacks kick off their campaign on August 22 against Italy in Lecce, followed by matches against Kosovo and Algeria. /gj.m/j.p/p.s./

On the eve of this match in transfer, the coach of the red and blacks Alban Bushi spoke for fshf.org, who analyzed the 10-day preparations for this match and asked the team for maximum concentration in front of Andorra, to start the qualifying adventure with all his might.

“It was a long gathering, which gave us the opportunity to see all the players, it was something positive. We are very well-prepared for this match which is very important and difficult. Our challenger should be taken seriously. It has recently done well with teams like England with whom it has drawn, beaten Turkey and drawn with us. For this reason, we have seriously considered the match, and we hope to get 3 points “, said Bushi, who when asked about the rivals of the qualifying group and the chances for the second place at the end of the edition, appears confident.

“We have to believe that we have all the chances to take second place and we will try it in this edition. It all starts and depends on tomorrow’s match with Andorra. We have an almost new team compared to the last edition, and it also takes time for the group to consolidate, I am satisfied with how my players have acted in training, so I am very optimistic that we will pass this match successfully “, said he./re/p.s./

The team led by Coach Bushi will start gathering on May 25 at the “Tropical” complex where they will stay until June 2 before traveling to Andorra, to play the first qualifying match valid for the qualifiers of the European Championship 2023 on 4 June. After the match with Andorra, the red and blacks will leave for Bulgaria, where they will play a friendly match on June 8.

Also, Bushi stressed that the goal of the National Team in these qualifiers will be the second place.

Coach Bushi said that in the match against Andorra, the team will try to win, seeing that in the last edition it made a mistake by leaving points that could be passed in the play-off stage, but this time the team will be focused and maximally engaged./p.s./