MATCH THREAD: Group A - Romania vs Albania - KO 20:00 (ITV)

[ijjysmith]

vs

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Romania midfielder Mihai Pintilii and defender Razvan Rat are both injury doubts and will be assessed before kick-off.

Vlad Chiriches, Adrian Popa and Rat are all one booking away from suspension.

Albania captain Lorik Cana may return after he was suspended for their game against Switzerland.

Midfielder Taulant Xhaka may also be reinstated to the starting line-up. whilst Sokol Cikalleshi could be given his first start of the tournament.

No points, no goals, but those stats do not do justice to Albania's debut at a major tournament. With better fortune they could have taken a point against both Switzerland and hosts France. Those hypothetical points would have put Albania within striking distance of a qualifying place.

It's a similar story of 'what ifs' for opponents Romania. They too came within minutes of taking points off the French and led against the Swiss before having to settle for a point.

Both of those previous Albania and Romania performances were built on rigid defensive foundations. Now they both need to change that mentality and throw off those shackles as ONLY a win will give either side a chance of progressing to the last 16.

 

[summerisle]

Good luck Shqiponjat. Played well with little luck ; last beat Romania in 2007, time for a winning result.

 

[bflefc]

Thousands up thousands of Albanians here in Lyon, with a crackling atmosphere around the streets already. Fit birds aplenty, too

 

[bflefc]

In the ground already as its about 15km out the city and has been a right ball ache getting to/in etc so we headed over earlier the usual.

The noise is deafening b already - absolute hordes of Albanians in here. They must be outnumbering the Romanians 10-1 at the moment. I wouldn't be surprised if there's 30,000 of them come kick-off. All pointing towards a white-hot atmosphere for this one. Stuff France-Switzerland!

 

[tsubaki]

good cross, good header but some bad Howarding there from the Romania keeper

romania 0 albania 1

 

[Mikey_Fitzgerald]

Well done Albania

They'll be back in 2020, and will probably do even better

 

[tsubaki]

great ending that

 

[tommye]

Congrats Albania

 

[ftk43]

Well done Albania

They'll be back in 2020, and will probably do even better

They are not out yet

 

[Goat]

Well done Albania

They'll be back in 2020, and will probably do even better

Congrats Albania

It aint over yet Friends.

 

[tommye]

It aint over yet Friends.

Are you offering to be the fat lady?

 

[Goat]

Are you offering to be the fat lady?

Dunno, just reading that it could go either way for the boys, the irony is, Canas red card could even bite them on the arse.

 

[tommye]

Dunno, just reading that it could go either way for the boys, the irony is, Canas red card could even bite them on the arse.

You need to get out more mate. x

 

[Goat]

You need to get out more mate. x

Been for a meal for fathers day here lad.

Nice big fat mixed grill.

 

[tommye]

Been for a meal for fathers day here lad.

Nice big fat mixed grill.

Good lad. Need to build yourself up for pre-season mate.

#FeelTheBurn