Albania National Football Team Formation

Starting Lineup

1 (Кочергин)
14 (Сушков)
10 (Мамедов)
3 (Науменко)
97 (Лиманский)
5 (Солонина)
7 (Лысенко)
9 (Булгаков)
19 (Ткаченко)
11 (Олейник)
30 (Здановский)

Albania focuses on a low block and defensive stability using a 5-4-1. This formation is built to stay compact and frustrate teams that want to play through the lines. Denying space in the middle is the primary goal to force the opposition to play wide.

In the defensive unit, 1 stays on the line to protect the goal. A back five consisting of 5, 97, and 3 acts as the central core, while 14 and 10 occupy the wing back roles. 5 serves as the main center back to lead the line and clear the lines, while 97 and 3 provide cover to the sides. 14 and 10 are expected to track back quickly to form a narrow defensive block. They also look to push up to support the midfield when possession is regained. This unit works to squeeze the space between the lines.

Midfield is composed of a four man block with 30 and 11 acting as the central pairing. 30 and 11 are tasked to shield the defense and win the second ball. They connect the back five to the lone forward by recycling possession. On the flanks, 9 and 19 play as wide midfielders who can drop deep to help the wing backs. These players help to close the gaps in a mid block, ensuring the opponent cannot find easy passing lanes. Moving as a single unit allows the midfield to maintain a compact formation.

In the attacking phase, 7 operates as a lone striker. His job is to hold up the ball and wait for support to arrive from the midfield. Quick transitions allow 9 and 19 to burst forward and stretch the defence. 30 and 11 look to arrive late into the box to provide extra numbers. Albania looks to hit in behind on the transition, using the width provided by the wing backs to deliver crosses into the box. These movements are designed to isolate defenders in one on one situations during a break.

Such a formation offers great compactness when defending. By keeping the distances between the five defenders and the four midfielders small, the team makes it difficult for opponents to play through the middle. Another advantage is the speed of transition. Once the ball is won, the team can move quickly from a defensive block to an attacking lineup. The wing backs 14 and 10 also allow for wide overloads when they push forward.

This 5-4-1 lineup is built for defensive resilience and quick counter attacks. It is best suited for matches against teams that dominate possession and will struggle to break down a low block.