Albania square off against Chile in an international friendly at Stadio Ennio Tardini in Parma on Friday evening.
While the Red and Blacks are ranked 64th in the world by FIFA, La Roja find themselves 22 places higher up the standings in 42nd place.
Match preview
© Reuters
Albania were one of the surprise packages during the Euro 2024 qualifiers as they finished top of Group E to punch their ticket to just their second-ever major tournament after Euro 2016.
The Red and Blacks picked up 15 points from eight matches and finished above second-placed Czech Republic on goal difference, while Poland were four points further back in third spot and missed out on automatic qualification.
Albania lost 1-0 away against Poland in March last year, but they got their revenge six months later with a 2-0 home win, and they put together an eight-game unbeaten run - keeping five clean sheets in the process - to conclude 2023 on a high.
Brazilian head coach Sylvinho, formerly of Arsenal, Barcelona and Manchester City in his playing days, has since received Albanian citizenship as an appreciation of his efforts in steering the Western Balkan nation to Euro 2024.
Albania have never faced Chile on the international stage before, but they will be confident of success on Friday as they have won five and drawn one of their last six home games and have not conceded a single goal during this run.
© Reuters
While Albania are understandably in high spirits at present, the same cannot be said about Chile, who ended 2023 with just one win in seven international fixtures, scoring just three goals in the process.
La Roja are already facing an uphill battle to qualify for the 2026 World Cup as they have picked up just five points from their first six matches in CONMEBOL qualifying and subsequently sit eighth in the 10-nation standings, albeit only two points behind the automatic qualification places at this early stage.
Following a goalless draw with Paraguay in mid-November, Eduardo Berizzo announced his resignation as head coach after just over a year in charge, and experienced Argentine boss Ricardo Gareca has since taken the reins following an unsuccessful three-month stint at Velez Sarsfield.
The 66-year-old begins his tenure with a baptism of fire against high-flying Albania and European giants France this month, but he will be keen to at least see signs of progress before Chile prepare for their 2024 Copa America campaign in June.
Team News
© Reuters
Granada attacker Myrto Uzuni has been forced to pull out of the Albania squad this month due to an Achilles tendon injury, while Empoli goalkeeper Etrit Berisha is also absent as he is nursing a pectoral muscle problem.
In the absence of 80-cap Berisha, Sylvinho has decide to call up Egnatia shot-stopper Alen Sherri, who is in contention to earn his second international cap, although he faces competition from Thomas Strakosha and Elhan Kastrati for a start between the sticks.
Serie A trio Elseid Hysaj, Berat Djimsiti and Kristjan Asllani are all set to feature in some capacity, while Chelsea striker Armando Broja - on loan at Fulham - will be hoping to get some minutes under his belt.
As for Chile, they are having to cope without Guillermo Maripan, Erick Pulgar, Diego Valdes, Carlos Palacios and Javier Altamirano as they are all sidelined with injuries.
Experienced quartet Claudio Bravo (145), Mauricio Isla (134), Alexis Sanchez (160) and Eduardo Vargas (106) are four of nine Chile players to have earned over 100 caps for the national team, and they are all set to be involved on Friday.
Inter Milan forward Sanchez is La Roja's all-time leading scorer with 51 goals, and the 35-year-old could be joined in attack by Vargas and Sheffield United loanee Ben Brereton Diaz, who is seeking to end his seven-game goal drought on the international stage.
Albania possible starting lineup:
Strakosha; Hysaj, Kumbulla, Gjimshiti, Mitaj; Bare, Asllani, Bajrami; Asani, Broja, Cikalleshi
Chile possible starting lineup:
Bravo; Isla, Diaz, Sierralta, Suazo; Nunez, Pavez, Osorio; Vargas, Brereton Diaz, Sanchez
We say: Albania 2-1 Chile
Chile's players will be keen to make a positive impression under new boss Gareca as they bid to avoid going four games without a win or a goal. However, Albania looked strong towards the end of 2023 and we believe that they may do just enough to come out on top on Friday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
