Proud Albania coach Sylvinho lauds 'priceless' experience

DUSSELDORF, Germany — Impressive performances by Albania at Euro 2024 against three major soccer nations — Italy, Croatia and Spain — have left its fans and coach beaming with pride, despite the team's failure to progress from the group stage.

"My players left everything on the pitch and they will remember this for the rest of their lives," Albania's Brazilian coach Sylvinho said after another battling display in its 1-0 defeat to Spain on Monday.

Even though this was the most subdued performance of its three Group B games, Albania still had more shots on goal than its illustrious rival — four to three — and pressed hard for an equalizer in front of its passionate red-clad fans.

The loss followed a narrow 2-1 opening defeat against Italy and a pulsating 2-2 draw with Croatia, in games where many had predicted Albania would be thumped.

"No one was humiliated. We were playing at the top level. They (the players) were perfect for me as coach — this was pure gold," added Sylvinho, who has transformed Albania since taking over at the start of 2023.

Albania's second major tournament was a wonderful learning experience for his young players and a unifying moment for the nation, he said.

"We've been there for a year-and-a half, we've found very good players. They said we would get thrashed. The players believed in the work. They left everything on the pitch. This is a team with very good transition.

"Albania saw young players who show a lot of promise, and I hope will be in the national team for another decade."

Sylvinho said he had suffered many sleepless nights worrying about the high quality of Albania's opposition.

"But, it was worth it. We competed, we did our best. The country is very proud of everything we are doing. We have to get used to competitions at a high level like this.

"They've given me a lot of headaches — Croatia, Italy and Spain, but I think we did well.

"I wouldn't change it. The experience has been amazing. It's been priceless playing against these three teams."

Albania captain Berat Djimsiti said more could have been achieved had some luck gone the team's way. For example, Albania had a glorious chance to equalize against reigning European champion Italy at the death in its first game.

"Everything is possible in soccer and, with a little bit of luck, we could have done more. In general, I would consider it a positive performance at this tournament, but we have to learn from what we did wrong."

Striker Armando Broja echoed the sentiments of his coach and captain: "We have to keep our head up and we should feel proud. We knew all three teams play a high level of football. In none of the games they destroyed us, and we should feel proud of what we did."

Free to dream

Spain must not get carried away with its Euro 2024 title chances after its second string beat Albania 1-0 on Monday to wrap up a perfect group stage, manager Luis de la Fuente said.

After wins against Croatia and current holder Italy had already assured Spain of a spot in the last 16 as the winner of a tough Group B, De la Fuente made 10 changes and still managed to secure a third consecutive clean-sheet victory.

When asked about his side being favorite to win the tournament, De la Fuente said that despite welcoming the praise, his side would not fall into the trap of being overconfident.

"We are all free to dream, but we have to keep our feet on the ground — being considered favorite doesn't guarantee anything," he told a news conference.

"We welcome the fact that people value the work we are doing, and recognize the talent of this generation. That means that we are considered to be good.

"Winning all three games, clean sheets in all three of those, it's extremely difficult, but let's not get carried away. We know how things work in Spain. One day you're at the top, and the next day you're worthless."

De la Fuente was glad he could give opportunities to all but his third-choice goalkeeper Alex Remiro in the group stage, and is confident that his side is ready for the knockout stage, despite not liking having to wait to learn who it will play next.

"If we already sleep two or three hours a day, now we will have to spend a night awake because of the short time we have to study the next opponent," De la Fuente said.

"Of course we have room for improvement, it's a principle that we have established in the dressing room. We are not satisfied and this group is very ambitious.

"But in any case, we'll be mentally prepared and ready to go all-out to overcome this tie. Of course we will."

Reuters