Albania manager Edy Reja feels Italy were ‘unlucky’ to miss out on the World Cup, can’t wait to hear both anthems played in Tirana tonight and discusses his future in the role.
An international friendly kicks off at the Air Albania Stadium in Tirana at 19.45 GMT.
You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the LIVEBLOG.
“It’s a wonderful, exciting sensation and then I think of the Italy and Albania anthems played one after the other, it’s something I never thought I’d experience,” Reja told RAI Sport.
The Azzurri are not using this as a warm-up for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, having failed to qualify after finishing behind Switzerland in the group, then losing to North Macedonia in the play-off.
“Italy were unlucky, as they had the opportunities to secure qualification, there were some penalties that were not converted and other situations went against them. I have great respect for Mancini, as a coach and a man, so it’s right he retained to give consistency to this project.”
There is a strong rapport between Albania and Italy, which are divided by a narrow sea, and Reja is the third Italian coach of their national team after Gianni De Biasi and Christian Panucci.
“Albania is almost like Italy’s spare rib. There is this great bond of friendship and affection, they perhaps admire Italians more than the Italians credit themselves.
“In the early 1990s when they had so many problems, Italy helped them out and they will always be thankful to the Italian population.”
Reja has been at the helm of the Albania squad since April 2019 and his current contract runs to December 31.
“We’ll see. The important thing is that both sides have a similar desire to continue and share the same ideas. We’ll discuss it in a couple of weeks.”
“Albania is almost like Italy’s spare rib” !!
Wonderfully said, I do agree with that so much .