Albania at EURO 2016

[Albo_eagle]

So, how is everyone getting tickets to the Euros (if they're going)?

[andi2410]

Does anyone know how the "choose your country" stage for the tickets work? Also, anyone changed their mind about attending because of all these terrorist attacks?

[Aurora Bulkualis]

2 hour long documentary of entire NT history from Digitalb, starting from the creation of FSHF and Balkan Cup up to modern era. Haven't had time to watch it, but can't wait.

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[Aurora Bulkualis]

Damn what a boss Pano was. Bossing around W. German defenders while they were on the verge of elimination. Especially with those shit fields.

[Simboli i Diellit]

Yea probably if he played in western clubs he could be a great legent of world football.

[Aurora Bulkualis]

It's funny how history repeats itself. Josa that was part of that 1984 period, that played really good attacking football against stronger teams, but only got results once in a while, is essentially instilling the same mentality and tactics into Skenderbeu.

Yea probably if he played in western clubs he could be a great legent of world football.

It's a disgrace what Hoxha did in late 1960s closing up the borders. Could have had an amazing renaissance of football with Loro Borici at the helm. I think I heard them saying that in the early 80s we had a top 10 youth team in the world.

[Simboli i Diellit]

It's funny how history repeats itself. Josa that was part of that 1984 period, that played really good attacking football against stronger teams, but only got results once in a while, is essentially instilling the same mentality and tactics into Skenderbeu.

Yea probably if he played in western clubs he could be a great legent of world football.

It's a disgrace what Hoxha did in late 1960s closing up the borders. Could have had an amazing renaissance of football with Loro Borici at the helm. I think I heard them saying that in the early 80s we had a top 10 youth team in the world.

Our U21 was on top ten teams : viewtopic.php?f=3&t=7

[Pjetër]

George Best

What a legend.

[Aurora Bulkualis]

Listening to this shit is depressing. Bushi saying that even after they were beating Norway 2-0 away from home, they were intimidated because their stadium, shirts and sponsors were flashy, they had expensive shit, and they weren't used to it. Even in 1984, the coach said for all the attacking talent and promising results, they never truly believed they could qualify, so they didn't.

If only these players had confidence back then, we could have achieved great things. It's sad that anti-footballers like Lila have more confidence than players like Josa and Demollari.

[Albanian Damien]

Listening to this shit is depressing. Bushi saying that even after they were beating Norway 2-0 away from home, they were intimidated because their stadium, shirts and sponsors were flashy, they had expensive shit, and they weren't used to it. Even in 1984, the coach said for all the attacking talent and promising results, they never truly believed they could qualify, so they didn't.

If only these players had confidence back then, we could have achieved great things. It's sad that anti-footballers like Lila have more confidence than players like Josa and Demollari.

So much of it is also about how the culture has changed.

In the 60s-80s Albania was the worlds only atheist country(by force) and totally isolated. We were exactly what North Korea is today. There really was no place for optimism in that era and confidence is a direct product of optimism, the belief that you can do something is very optimistic.

Thus at first as the diaspora spread to different countries we were told to keep your head down and just work hard. Everything else will figure itself out. But in this modern era we are witnessing a revival. More and more you see Albanians with the mentality "why not us?". We've honestly never had that a country before and many people still don't.

However, so many actors, writers, and singers rising to notoriety only raised the pride of our people. Entertainment is viewed as the finest part of culture so for one culture to produce so many artists and entertainers is really something to proud of. It's raises the perceived value of our culture as well amongst other cultures.

Thus it became cool to say, I'm Albanian. We're going through the same exact cycle the Greeks and Italians did during their great migrations. In a generation or two we'll be thought of as the same as they are I think.

However to link this all back to soccer, you can see that success outside the country has brought optimism to some of the people within it. This has led to the confidence. The key part of confidence is constantly asking yourself "why not me? why not us?"

Someone has to be successful, someone has to win, and someone has to become champion. So why not us?