Albania National Football Team Formation

Starting Lineup

Albania favors a high pressing and vertical style of play. Using a 4-3-3 formation, the team looks to win the ball back high up the pitch and transition quickly to attack. This formation is built to use the width of the pitch to stretch the defence and create chances through quick movement.

Strakosha operates between the posts as the goalkeeper. The defensive unit functions with a flat back four. Hysaj acts as the right back and Mitaj plays as the left back. Both Hysaj and Mitaj are expected to overlap the wingers to provide width in the final third. Ismajli and Kumbulla form the central pair of defenders. Ismajli is tasked to defend zonally and hold the line, while Kumbulla works to cover the space and intercept passes. They must stay compact to prevent the opposition from playing through the lines.

The midfield is a three-man midfield with a central carrier. Ramadani sits in the deepest position to shield the defence and recycle possession. Bajrami and Asllani play as the two number eights who connect the defence and the attack. Bajrami works to carry the ball forward and drive into the half-spaces. Asllani is tasked to press aggressively to win the ball high and make late runs into the box. This midfield unit must work together to squeeze the space and prevent opponents from playing through the middle.

The attacking front line consists of three attackers across the front. Manaj acts as a lone striker and a target man to hold up the ball. Asani and Hoxha operate as wide wingers who hug the touchline to spread the pitch. Asani is ready to cut inside and create, while Hoxha looks to get to the byline and whip it in. When the team wins the ball, they look to hit in behind on the transition to exploit space. The movement of the wingers creates room for the midfielders to arrive late into the box.

One major advantage of this Albania lineup is the ability to press high in coordinated waves. By having Asani and Hoxha press from the front, they can force a long ball and win the second ball. Another strength is the speed of transition which allows the team to move from a mid-block to an attacking phase very quickly. The wide overloads created by Hysaj and Mitaj overlapping the wingers also make it hard for the opposition to defend the flanks.

The 4-3-3 formation provides Albania with a balanced way to control games through pressing and width. It is a system best suited for matches against teams that struggle to play out from the back.