
After a successful debut against Belarus in the Nations League, Albania is focused on the next challenge against San Marino. An opponent that in history has not only always defeated us, but has never scored a goal against us. Only this time, a goal is needed to go as close as possible to the Helsinki clash on October 3 against Finland.
With Belarus now archived, the eyes of the Rossoneri are directed to San Marino. Not some name that ignites emotions, but the opponent against whom 3 points are not only a necessity, but are required with a high goal quota. For the first place in the group, in order not to give additional advantages to Finland, goals must be scored. A lot in fact, given that the Nordics scored 7 against Albania's next opponent. To think that Rolando Maran's trusted ones could cause such an earthquake seems like pure fantasy for a team that in the last 6 outings has scored only 3 goals, two of which in the victory with the Belarusians.
And yet, looking at the historical precedents with San Marino, it may not be so impossible, especially since it will be played in a stadium full of Albanian fans. In four matches, there are not only four victories, but also always with clean sheets. Since August 16, 2006, when the first encounter came in a friendly won 0-3, the Rossoneri have always won without problems with San Marino. In 2014, a deja vu came, in another friendly won at home and with the same result, before in 2021 the draw put the teams in the same group in the 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign. A 0-2 away win on March 31 and a 5-0 in Tirana on September 8, which is not far from the result required this time to balance the score with Finland, before the two teams face off on October 3 in Helsinki.