Czech Republic-Albania is a match valid for the fifth day of Group E of Euro 2024 qualifiers and is played on Thursday at 20:45: predictions.
If the Euro 2024 qualifiers ended today, a flight to Germany – site of the next European championships – would be booked by Albania, which after three matches has six points in its pocket and is second, just a glue behind the leading Czech Republic.
The selection coached by Sylvinho for the time being has 3 points more than Poland, to whom they lost narrowly (1-0) in the opener and who, in theory, should have qualified easily together with the Czechs. The Poles, however, have disappointed after that risky success on debut, cashing in on two defeats, including the, to say the least, resounding one with Moldova, which was able to come back as many as three goals to the national team led by Portuguese Fernando Santos. The battle, needless to reiterate, at this point will be with Lewandowski and co. That, while Albania will be on stage at the Eden Arena in Prague, will most likely be unleashed against the group’s cinderella, the Faroe Islands. Avoiding defeat at the very least is therefore the mission of Sylvinho and his men, who are by no means out of the game and dream of qualifying for the second time in their history to a European Championship final stage.
The Czech Republic, for its part, could put a serious mortgage on qualification should they succeed over the Albanians.
Berisha
After three days it is Jaroslav Silhavy’s selection that looks down on everyone thanks to the 7 points won in three games (two wins and a draw). The only blemish remains the half-step at home to Moldova, where Soucek and his teammates did not go beyond a drab 0-0. Silhavy will have to do without the injured Barak and Schick, but there are some defections in Albania as well: absent are two potential starters like Broja and Kumbulla.
The Prediction
Albania has so far shown that it can compete at least for second place, undermining the better-ranked Czech Republic and Poland. Sylvinho can count on some excellent players we know well in Italy (Djimsiti, Asllani and Bajrami) and his selection will likely stay in the game until the end. Unlikely, however, that he will be able to score against a healthy national team like the Czechs, always very hostile to face within their own walls. The total goals should be less than four.
The probable formations of Czech Republic-Albania
- REPUBLIC (4-2-3-1): Pavlenka; Coufal, Holes, Krejci, Jurasek; Soucek, Kral; Cerny, Hlozek, Jurecka; Kuchta.
- ALBANIA (4-2-3-1): Berisha; Hysaj, Ismajli, Djimsiti, Mitaj; Ramadani, Asllani; Seferi, Bajrami, Uzuni; Cikalleshi.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-0
