Tim nasional Albania akan menjamu Luksemburg dalam laga persahabatan di Stadion Air Albania pada Sabtu malam, 6 Juni 2026 pukul 20.00 waktu setempat, sebagai persiapan terakhir menjelang turnamen UEFA Nations League yang dimulai September mendatang.
Pertandingan ini menjadi momentum krusial bagi kedua tim untuk memutus tren negatif setelah Albania menelan kekalahan 1-0 dari Israel dan Luksemburg ditumbangkan Italia dengan skor serupa pada laga tengah pekan lalu.
Pelatih Albania, Rolando Maran, yang baru menjabat selama sekitar 20 hari, menjadikan laga ini sebagai wadah evaluasi taktis dan pengenalan karakter para pemainnya setelah mencatatkan hasil minor di awal masa kepelatihannya.
Bek kanan Elseid Hysaj diproyeksikan tampil sejak menit pertama sekaligus mengenakan ban kapten dalam laga yang menandai penampilan ke-100 miliknya bersama tim nasional Albania.
Di kubu lawan, pelatih Luksemburg Jeff Strasser diperkirakan tetap mengandalkan kapten berpengalaman Laurent Jans di lini pertahanan serta Daniel Sinani untuk memimpin sektor penyerangan.
" I think some things were done well and some not so well. I expected that when you make changes, there might be difficulties. I have been the national team coach for about 20 days. I was clear that knowing the team is different when you train the players, listen to them and communicate with them. This is all a journey ," kata Rolando Maran, Pelatih Albania.
Maran mengevaluasi efektivitas lini serang skuadnya yang dinilai kurang tenang dalam menyelesaikan peluang di depan gawang lawan pada pertandingan sebelumnya.
" We had 3-4 high-risk chances in front of goal. Hoxha, Ramadani and Mehmeti had chances, but perhaps there was a lack of precision. We need to balance ourselves as a team and improve important tactical elements for the next match ," ujar Rolando Maran, Pelatih Albania.
Area pertahanan luar juga menjadi perhatian sang pelatih agar koordinasi tim tetap solid saat menghadapi tekanan balik dari musuh.
" There some things we need to improve. When we apply pressure, we should not allow spaces, especially on the wings. I believe that this improvement will come very quickly. In 3-4 days we have managed to understand each other well and find a common language ." kata Rolando Maran, Pelatih Albania.
Maran mengingatkan anak asuhnya untuk tidak memandang remeh kekuatan Luksemburg karena hasil akhir dari uji coba ini sangat memengaruhi mentalitas tim.
" There are no easy opponents. We have to take to the field with great attention. This result matters and these two matches will be very key for our preparation for the September challenges ." ujar Rolando Maran, Pelatih Albania.
Terkait komposisi pemain, gelandang Luis Hasa direncanakan untuk mengisi area sentral guna mengoptimalkan kreativitas permainannya.
" Hasa will be more in the middle of the field, to be more free in movement than as a winger. Maybe the midfield position would be the most suitable for him, but we have to work since it is the first time he has been called up for the national team ." kata Rolando Maran, Pelatih Albania.
Maran menegaskan rangkaian uji coba internasional ini sangat berharga untuk mematangkan skema permainan tim sebelum kompetisi resmi dimulai.
" We need time and space to understand how the national team can develop further. This test will help me better understand the characteristics of the players. The Nations League is ahead and it is very important for us ." ujar Rolando Maran, Pelatih Albania.
Sementara itu, gelandang Albania Ylber Ramadani memberikan pandangannya mengenai performa tim saat menghadapi Israel yang sempat berjalan baik di babak pertama.
" We had prepared the match to play an offensive game, to attack the opponent more and I think that part of the game, the first half, we did very well. Then in the second half we were a little further apart and they scored. But the coach told us after the match that this serves me for the next matches, to see what is missing and then we will practice the other things in the match ," kata Ylber Ramadani, Gelandang Albania.
Ramadani menambahkan bahwa kondisi internal skuad saat ini sangat kondusif dan dipenuhi energi positif untuk meraih kemenangan.
" The atmosphere is fantastic. As you can see, we are all together and we are with each other. It is an atmosphere that I always look forward to experiencing, because we have a great time with each other. This positive energy has always driven us forward and I think we will win the next match ," ujar Ylber Ramadani, Gelandang Albania.
Para pemain berkomitmen tampil maksimal agar bisa menutup periode pemusatan latihan ini dengan hasil yang memuaskan bagi seluruh tim.
" We are preparing maximally because we want to win the match and go on vacation with a calm head. These two matches serve us a lot, because we need to practice the game that the coach asks of us, so that we can come to September with clear ideas for the matches that await us ," kata Ylber Ramadani, Gelandang Albania.
Ia juga mengajak seluruh pendukung setia Albania untuk meramaikan stadion dan memberikan dukungan langsung demi mendongkrak motivasi bertanding.
" I always say that the fans are our strength and without them we cannot achieve the objectives we have. I urge them to come as much as possible and support us, regardless of who plays or not in the lineup. We players also never question when the National Team calls us. We have always been away from our family and commitments to give our best. I hope they come to support us and that we are all together ," ujar Ylber Ramadani, Gelandang Albania.
Dilansir dari Sportsmole, rekam jejak pertemuan kedua negara menunjukkan kekuatan yang seimbang, di mana Luksemburg sukses memenangi laga pertemuan terakhir dengan skor 2-1 pada Juni 2017 silam.
