Albania's Quest for Euro 2024 Glory: Fixtures and Results
March On to the Euros
The UEFA European Qualifiers for Euro 2024 kicked off in March, with Albania eager to make their mark in the prestigious tournament. The Albanian national team, known affectionately as the "Kuq e Zinjtë" (Red and Blacks), set out on a challenging journey to secure a place among Europe's elite.
Fixtures and Results
Albania's fixtures and results in the European Qualifiers are as follows:
- March 24, 2023: Albania 1-0 Andorra
- March 27, 2023: Romania 2-1 Albania
- June 16, 2023: Albania 1-1 Belarus
- June 20, 2023: Poland 3-0 Albania
- September 7, 2023: Albania 2-0 Moldova
- September 10, 2023: Andorra 0-2 Albania
- October 13, 2023: Albania 1-0 Romania
- October 16, 2023: Belarus 0-1 Albania
- November 17, 2023: Albania 1-2 Poland
- November 20, 2023: Moldova 0-4 Albania
As of the latest update, Albania sits in third place in Group B, with 17 points from 10 matches. They trail Poland (24 points) and Romania (21 points), but have a narrow lead over Belarus (16 points) and Andorra (10 points). Moldova (4 points) rounds out the group.
Playoff Prospects
With two matches remaining in the qualifying campaign, Albania's hopes of automatic qualification are slim. Poland has already secured its spot in the tournament, and Romania is likely to follow suit. However, Albania still has a chance to qualify through the playoffs, which will be held in March 2024.
The playoffs will feature 12 teams who finished second in their respective qualifying groups. These teams will be seeded and drawn into three paths, with each path culminating in a single-leg final. The three winners will advance to Euro 2024.
Seeking a Euro Debut
Albania has never qualified for a major tournament at the senior level. Their closest brush with glory came in the 2016 European Championship qualifiers, when they finished third in their group and narrowly missed out on a playoff spot.
Euro 2024 represents a golden opportunity for Albania to make history. With a strong squad and a passionate fanbase behind them, the "Kuq e Zinjtë" will be determined to put on a memorable performance and secure their place in the annals of Albanian football.
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