Albania vs Czechia Prediction, Preview, Lineups and Team News | Nations League, November 16, 2024

Albania vs Czechia Preview

• Date: Sunday, November 16
• Kick-off Time: 7:45 pm GMT
• Venue: Air Albania Stadium, Albania

Matchday five of the UEFA Nations League B Group 1 will include Albania welcoming Czechia on Saturday evening. The Albania vs Czechia match will be one of the biggest encounters in the second division of the Nations League this weekend. Albania is in third place in the group with six points while Czechia is at the top on the back of seven points from four matches. The two sides along with Georgia and Ukraine make up for what is one of the most closely contested groups in the current edition of the Nations League.

Albania will be massively discontent with its recent form. The national team has managed just a couple of victories to go with three defeats and a draw in the last six matches. Despite bowing out in the group stage itself in the Euros, Albania displayed an incredible amount of grit and hunger. The Albanians were not afraid to take the game to high-calibre opponents like Spain, Italy, and Croatia. The future is indeed bright for Albania with several talented players in the squad.

Czechia was one of the major underperformers of the European Championship in Germany. The nation could not qualify to the knockout rounds and ultimately exited the competition with just a solitary point from three games. The performances received tremendous backlash from the supporters considering the individual quality in the squad. Since the Euros, has collected two wins from four matches and is in pole position to qualify for the top tier next year.

Albania National Football Team News

Berat Djimsiti and Marash Kumbulla will not be available for the hosts on Saturday. Both players are recovering from leg injuries.

Czechia National Football Team News

For Czechia, Ladislav Krejci is the only name on the injury list currently. Manager, Ivan Hasek will provide an update about any further possible absentees in his pre-match press conference.

Albania vs Czechia Predicted Lineups

Albania National Football Team Predicted Lineup (4-3-3)

Goalkeeper: Strakosha

Defenders: Balliu, Ismajli, Ajeti, Mitaj

Midfielders: Asllani, Ramadani, Bajrami

Forwards: Asani, Laci, Tuci

Czechia National Football Team Predicted Lineup (3-4-3)

Goalkeeper: Kovar

Defenders: Vitik, Holes, Boril

Midfielders: Coufal, Soucek, Cerv, Provod

Forwards: Cerny, Chory, Sulc

Albania vs Czechia H2H Record

Czechia won the reverse fixture in the group with a 2-0 margin. Overall in the last four head-to-head meetings between the two nations, Czechia has won two matches, Albania has won one game, and one contest concluded in a draw.

Key Players to Watch in Albania vs Czechia

Tomas Soucek (Czechia)

For Czechia, Tomas Soucek is an indispensable part of the team. The midfielder is the captain of his nation and the enforcer in the midfield. Soucek’s playing profile is highlighted by his ability to make late runs into the box. The 29-year-old is a complete midfielder as reflected in his performances for his club, West Ham United. He has appeared in 10 Premier League games this season, scoring two goals.

Kristjan Asllani (Albania)

Kristjan Asllani has been one of the smartest signings by Inter Milan in recent seasons. Asllani joined Inter in 2022 and not many expected him to remain with the Nerazzurri until now. The defensive midfielder has become a trusted comrade of Simone Inzaghi and is now used regularly as the ‘Regista’. Asllani can link up with his defenders and also controls the game brilliantly as a deep-lying playmaker. The 22-year-old can also find the back of the net from long distances thanks to his wonderful shooting ability.

Albania vs Czechia Prediction

Czechia certainly boasts a superior tank of individual quality as compared to Albania but the hosts have a well-defined gameplan which has already caused trouble to some of the most potent European national teams. A draw with goals on both ends seems to be the most likely outcome.

Predicted Score: Albania 2-2 Czechia

Where to watch Albania vs Czechia Live?

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