Albania national under-20 football team

Albania under-20
Nickname(s)	Kuq e Zinjtë (The Red and Blacks); Shqiponjat (The Eagles)
Association	Federata Shqiptare e Futbollit (FSHF)
Confederation	UEFA (Europe)
Head coach
Captain	Elmir Lekaj
Most caps	Amir Rrahmani (5); Aldo Teqja; Marvin Turtulli; Klaudio Hyseni; Ilir Kastrati; Enis Gavazaj; Maldin Ymeraj; Valon Ahmedi; Erion Hoxhallari; Arben Muskaj
Top scorer	Ardit Shehaj (1); Amir Rrahmani; Marvin Turtulli; Klaudio Hyseni; Ilir Kastrati; Klodian Gino
Home stadium	Elbasan Arena; Loro Boriçi Stadium
FIFA code	ALB

The Albania national under-20 football team, also known as Albania U20(s), is the national under-20 football team of Albania and is controlled by the Football Association of Albania.

The under-20 squad is often cited as a feeder squad to the under-21 squad. Most of the player picked for this team are U-21 internationals already.

Because there is no under-20 competition at UEFA level, Albania's under-20 side has generally only competed when it has qualified for the FIFA U-20 World Cup, which is held every 2 years. Qualification for this competition is achieved in view of performance at the preceding summer's UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship.

Albania have never played a game with the U-20 squad and the team was only formed after an invitation to play in 2009 Mediterranean Games in Pescara, Italy. Then Albania under-20 participated in the next tournament 2013 Mediterranean Games in Mersin, Turkey.

In 2017 the Albanian Football Association decided to "reborn" the under-20 side by assigning a Friendly match against on 14 November 2017 at in Tbilisi, Georgia.^[1]

History[]

2009 Mediterranean Games[]

Group D[]

Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Spain	2	1	1	0	5	2	+3	4
Tunisia	2	1	1	0	4	3	+1	4
Albania	2	0	0	2	1	5	-4	0

27 June 2009 2009 Mediterranean Games	Albania	1 – 2	Tunisia	showPescara, Italy
17:00 CET	Shehaj 23'	Report	Ben Messaoud 27' Ayari 35'	Stadium: , Francavilla al Mare Referee: Fırat Aydınus (Turkey)

29 June 2009 2009 Mediterranean Games	Spain	3 – 0	Albania	showPescara, Italy
17:00 CET	Kike 11' Aarón 12' Botía 77'	Report		Stadium: , Francavilla al Mare Referee: Nikola Dabanović (Montenegro)

Squad[]

The following players were called up and participated in the 2009 Mediterranean Games football tournament, which began on 25 June in Pescara, Italy.^[2]

COACH: Artan Bushati

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1GK	Shpëtim Moçka	(1989-10-20)20 October 1989 (aged 19)	2	0	Flamurtari Vlorë
12	1GK	Ibrahim Bejte	(1989-09-15)15 September 1989 (aged 19)	0	0	Lushnja

4	2DF	Klodian Samina	(1989-01-19)19 January 1989 (aged 20)	2	0	Belasitsa Petrich
2	2DF	Indrit Hithi	(1990-02-05)5 February 1990 (aged 19)	2	0	Partizani Tirana
3	2DF	Ditmar Bicaj	(1989-02-26)26 February 1989 (aged 20)	1	0	Belasitsa Petrich
13	2DF	Renato Malota (Captain)	(1989-06-24)24 June 1989 (aged 20)	2	0	Partizani Tirana
11	2DF	Arsen Sykaj	(1990-04-11)11 April 1990 (aged 19)	1	0	Vllaznia Shkodër

7	3MF	Sokol Cikalleshi	(1990-07-27)27 July 1990 (aged 18)	2	0	Besa Kavajë
5	3MF	Ganiol Kaçuli	(1989-09-22)22 September 1989 (aged 19)	2	0	Elbasani
18	3MF	Orgest Gava	(1990-03-29)29 March 1990 (aged 19)	2	0	Elbasani
14	3MF	Erjon Vuçaj	(1990-12-25)25 December 1990 (aged 18)	2	0	Vllaznia Shkodër
8	3MF	Sabien Lilaj	(1989-02-10)10 February 1989 (aged 20)	2	0	Skënderbeu Korçë
6	3MF	Elham Galica	(1989-01-30)30 January 1989 (aged 20)	0	0	Flamurtari Vlorë
16	3MF	Orjan Xhemalaj	(1989-06-07)7 June 1989 (aged 20)	0	0	Teuta Durrës

17	4FW	Bekim Balaj	(1991-01-11)11 January 1991 (aged 18)	0	0	Vllaznia Shkodër
10	4FW	Vilfor Hysa	(1989-09-09)9 September 1989 (aged 19)	2	0	Teuta Durrës
9	4FW	Ardit Shehaj	(1990-09-23)23 September 1990 (aged 18)	2	1	Flamurtari Vlorë
15	4FW	Alban Dashi	(1989-09-25)25 September 1989 (aged 19)	2	0	Partizani Tirana

2013 Mediterranean Games[]

Preliminary round - Group A[]

Team v t	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Morocco	3	3	0	0	7	2	+5	9
Turkey	3	2	0	1	8	4	+4	6
Albania	3	0	1	2	3	6	−3	1
Bosnia and Herzegovina	3	0	1	2	4	10	−6	1

Source:^{[citation needed]}

19 June 2013 2013 Mediterranean Games	Turkey	2–0	Albania	showMersin, Turkey
21:45 CET	Aydın 10' Sazdağı 86'	Report		Stadium: Tevfik Sırrı Gür Stadium Referee: (Italy)

21 June 2013 2013 Mediterranean Games	Albania	2–2		showMersin, Turkey
18:00 CET	Turtulli 61' Rrahmani 73'	Report	Bajić 44' 52'	Stadium: , Tarsus Referee: (Turkey)

23 June 2013 2013 Mediterranean Games	Morocco	2–1	Albania	showMersin, Turkey
21:45 CET	Khaloua 33' (pen.) 58'	Report	Gino 47'	Stadium: Tevfik Sırrı Gür Stadium Referee: Alain Bieri (Switzerland)

Classification stage - 5–8 matches[]

25 June 2013 2013 Mediterranean Games	Albania	1–2 (a.e.t.)	North Macedonia	showMersin, Turkey
21:00 CET	Kastrati 85' (pen.)	Report	50' Imeri 6' (extra time)	Stadium: Tevfik Sırrı Gür Stadium Referee: (Bulgaria)

Classification stage - 7th place match[]

26 June 2013 2013 Mediterranean Games	Albania	1–3	Italy	showMersin, Turkey
18:00 CET	Hyseni 82'	Report	Canotto 20' Bollino 47' Gomez 54' (pen.)	Stadium: , Tarsus Referee: (Morocco)

Players[]

Current squad[]

The following players were called up for the friendly match.
Match date: 12 June 2021
Opposition:

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1GK		(2003-03-19) 19 March 2003 (age 18)	0	0	Vllaznia Pozheran
12	1GK	Simon Simoni	(2004-07-14) 14 July 2004 (age 17)	1	0	Shënkolli
23	1GK		(2002-01-29) 29 January 2002 (age 19)	1	0	Erzeni

2	2DF		(2002-03-13) 13 March 2002 (age 19)	0	0
3	2DF	Omar Musaj	(2002-04-15) 15 April 2002 (age 19)	1	0	Tirana
4	2DF		(2002-12-16) 16 December 2002 (age 18)	1	0	Lokomotiva Zagreb
5	2DF		(2002-04-01) 1 April 2002 (age 19)	1	0	Roda JC
6	2DF		(2002-01-15) 15 January 2002 (age 19)	1	0	Arezzo
11	2DF		(2002-05-16) 16 May 2002 (age 19)	1	0	Vllaznia Pozheran
13	2DF		(2002-10-17) 17 October 2002 (age 18)	1	0	Korabi Debar
14	2DF		(2002-10-25) 25 October 2002 (age 18)	1	0	Akademia e Futbollit
21	2DF		(2002-04-08) 8 April 2002 (age 19)	1	0	Akademia e Futbollit
22	2DF		(2002-02-28) 28 February 2002 (age 19)	1	0	Vllaznia Pozheran

7	3MF	Flamur Ruçi	(2002-01-19) 19 January 2002 (age 19)	0	0	Bylis
9	3MF		(2002-03-11) 11 March 2002 (age 19)	1	0	Apolonia Fier
10	3MF		(2003-08-20) 20 August 2003 (age 18)	1	0	Kukësi
15	3MF		(2002-11-24) 24 November 2002 (age 18)	1	0	Shkëndija

8	4FW	Aldi Gjumsi	(2002-03-15) 15 March 2002 (age 19)	1	0	Tirana

Recent call-ups[]

The following players have been called up for Albania U20 squad within the past 12 months.

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club	Latest call-up
GK	Mario Dajsinani	(1998-12-23) 23 December 1998 (age 22)	1	0	Erzeni Shijak	v. , 14 November 2017
GK	Angelo Tafa	(2000-07-05) 5 July 2000 (age 21)	1	0	AEK Athens	v. , 14 November 2017
GK	Gentian Selmani	(1998-03-09) 9 March 1998 (age 23)	0	0	Laçi	v. , 14 November 2017 ^PRE

DF	Irlian Ceka	(1998-03-03) 3 March 1998 (age 23)	1	0	Sambenedettese	v. , 14 November 2017
DF	Amer Duka	(1999-01-21) 21 January 1999 (age 22)	1	0	Laçi	v. , 14 November 2017
DF	Ded Bushi	(1998-10-02) 2 October 1998 (age 22)	1	0	Laçi	v. , 14 November 2017

MF	Agim Zeka	(1998-09-06) 6 September 1998 (age 23)	1	0	Varzim	v. , 14 November 2017
MF	Emir Sahiti	(1998-11-29) 29 November 1998 (age 22)	1	0	Unattached	v. , 14 November 2017
MF	Agon Mucolli	(1998-09-26) 26 September 1998 (age 22)	1	0	Vejle Boldklub	v. , 14 November 2017
MF		(1998-09-22) 22 September 1998 (age 22)	1	0	ArzignanoChiampo	v. , 14 November 2017
MF	Sherif Kallaku	(1998-03-01) 1 March 1998 (age 23)	0	0	Laçi	v. , 14 November 2017 ^PRE
MF		(1998-01-19) 19 January 1998 (age 23)	0	0	PAE Kerkyra	v. , 14 November 2017 ^PRE

FW		(1998-03-11) 11 March 1998 (age 23)	1	0	FC Kaiserslautern	v. , 14 November 2017
FW	Rubin Hebaj	(1998-07-30) 30 July 1998 (age 23)	1	0	Domžale	v. , 14 November 2017
FW		(1998-06-23) 23 June 1998 (age 23)	1	0	Akademisk Boldklub	v. , 14 November 2017

Notes

^INJ Withdrew due to injury
^PRE Preliminary squad / standby
^RET Retired from international football
^SUS Suspended from national team

Coaching staff[]

Current coaching staff:^[3]

Position	Name
Head Coach	Ilir Biturku
Assistant Coach	Arjan Bellaj
Goalkeeping Coach	Alfred Osmani
Athletic Coach
Team Doctor
Physiotherapists
Physiotherapists
Base materials

Tournament history[]

FIFA U-20 World Cup[]

Year	Round	GP	W	D*	L	GS	GA
1977	Did not qualify
1979
1981
1983
1985
1987
1989
1991
1993
1995
1997
1999
2001
2003
2005
2007
2009
2011^[4]
2013
2015
2017
2019
2021	To be determined
Total^[5]	0/23	0	0	0	0	0	0

Mediterranean Games - Football[]

Football at the Mediterranean Games record
Year	Round	Position	GP	W	D	L	GS	GA
2009	Group stage	10th	2	0	0	2	1	5
2013	Group stage	8th	5	0	1	4	5	11
Total	0/2	Best: 8th	7	0	1	6	6	16

References[]

^ "NDESHJET E NËNTORIT PËR U-21 DHE U-20" (in Albanian). FSHF. 24 October 2017. Archived from the original on 25 October 2017. Retrieved 24 October 2017. Sektori i Ekipeve kombëtare në FSHF ka tashmë zyrtare edhe daten për ndeshjen miqësore të skuadrës kombëtare U-20, që përfshin lojtarë të datëlindjes U-20, përkatësisht me Gjeorgjinë.
^ Peskara 2009, Shqipëria zbardh listën e futbollistëve - 2009-06-17 Gazeta Start
^ Kombëtarja U-21 (Albania national under-21 team) FSHF.org
^ "FIFA U-20 World Cup - Previous Tournaments". FIFA.com. Retrieved 2013-08-18.
^ "FIFA U-20 World Cup". FIFA.com.

External links[]

[1] "NDESHJET E NËNTORIT PËR U-21 DHE U-20" (in Albanian). FSHF. 24 October 2017. Archived from the original on 25 October 2017. Retrieved 24 October 2017. Sektori i Ekipeve kombëtare në FSHF ka tashmë zyrtare edhe daten për ndeshjen miqësore të skuadrës kombëtare U-20, që përfshin lojtarë të datëlindjes U-20, përkatësisht me Gjeorgjinë.

[2] Peskara 2009, Shqipëria zbardh listën e futbollistëve - 2009-06-17 Gazeta Start

[3] Kombëtarja U-21 (Albania national under-21 team) FSHF.org

[4] "FIFA U-20 World Cup - Previous Tournaments". FIFA.com. Retrieved 2013-08-18.

[5] "FIFA U-20 World Cup". FIFA.com.

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show v t FIFA Youth and U-20 World Cup
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Finals	1979 2017
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