European football championships|According to estimates, there were more than 50,000 Albanian supporters in Dortmund.
Dortmund
Dortmundin The Westfalenstadion is famous for how the end of Borussia Dortmund’s ultra-supporters form a uniform yellow wall during matches. On Saturday, the second day of the EC tournament, the Westfalenstadion was one red-black wall.
It is perhaps surprising that the country with the second smallest population in the European Championship, after Slovenia, has the largest group of supporters in the tournament. The Albanian national team was supported by an estimated 50,000 supporters in the match against Italy. It is the largest group of away fans in the EC tournament. The country is in the grip of football addiction, as Albania plays in the EC tournament for the second time.
The Westfalenstadion is the largest stadium in Germany, with an audience capacity of 81,000 spectators for Dortmund matches. In the EC tournament, the capacity is “only” 62,000 spectators, and 80 percent of it was held by Albanian supporters on Saturday.
The Albanians took over the center of Dortmund already on Saturday morning. The pedestrian streets were full of supporters wrapped in red shirts and Albanian flags. And everywhere you could see white eggshell-like white felt hats with pleats. They have become one of the symbols of Albania.
Albanian Claudio Zeqiri put a plissom hat on his head when he went for a walk in the city. He arrived in Dortmund on Saturday.
“This is a big day for all Albanians as we play a big match against Italy. We do our best and try to tell the world what we can do and what sir Sylvinho can do. He knows best what to do,” Klaudio Zeqiri said on Saturday afternoon.
Klaudio Zeqiri (left) and Sadik Zeqiri got their tickets confirmed for the Italy-Albania match just a few weeks ago.
Sylvinho is a 50-year-old Brazilian coach who started as Albania’s head coach at the beginning of the European Championship qualifiers. In the first match of the European Championship qualifiers, Albania lost to Poland away 0–1, but after that Albania progressed undefeated to win the group in a group that also included the Czech Republic, Moldova and the Faroe Islands.
“We’re doing our best here as a football team and as fans,” Zeqiri said.
Albania has only been in the prestigious men’s tournament once before, at the 2016 European Championship in France. At that time, Albania only beat Romania in its initial group and finished third in the group after France and Switzerland.
For Zeqir’s family, supporting Albania in the EC tournament will be very expensive.
“I only got the chance to get the tickets from UEFA three weeks ago. The price was really salty. This three-day trip costs us the same as full board on the Albanian Riviera,” said Klaudio Zeqiri.
According to Zeqir, Albania had every chance to win the opening match against Italy.
“We can take advantage of the pressure that Italy has. Italy is of course the reigning champion, but we will try to do our best on the field. Today you can see something special,” Zeqiri said, referring to how Albania dominates the match in the stands.
“Even if we don’t win on the field, we win in the stands.”
Albanian the population is only 2.8 million, but 1.4 million people from Albania live in other countries, according to the Albanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. On the streets of Dortmund, you could hear and see Albanians who had arrived from, for example, Italy, the United States and England. One of them had lived in London for 25 years Nick Eat.
“This is special for us, that we can support Albania here, because Albania has only been to the Games once before. I was in France in 2016, and we have been to many other places as well,” said Noj.
Nick Noj (right) had arrived with his nephews from London to Dortmund to support Albania.
Noj said he knows the match will not be easy.
“I think our team will do well today.”
Albanian media Editor of Maska Gentian Grief said at the Westfalenstadion before the match that Albanians have dreamed of this day. And that is one of the reasons why Dortmund saw an invasion of Albanian supporters on Saturday.
“This is our second time in the EC tournament. Many Albanians live in Germany and Italy, so they could buy the tickets there. Albanians now left their jobs to support their team,” Duka said.
There are grounds for the greatest hopes, because Albania has plenty of top players. There were six Serie A players in the starting line-up at the European Championships, one of which is the Italian champion, and one Premier League striker. They are not the most famous players, but they are of good quality. The kind of player material that, for example, Finland can only dream of.
Albanian midfielder Kristjan Asllani (center) played with the ball during Albania’s training session on Friday.
According to Duka, the current national team is better than the team that played in the European Championship in France. The Albanian team has quality players from Serie A, such as Atalanta’s topper Djimsiti’s weightInter midfielder Kristjan Asllani and Sassuolo midfielder Nedim Bajrami.
“We have more experience and a good team. Head coach Sylvinho managed to make the team united, and not just a bunch of individuals. I hope he stays as head coach, his contract ends at the tournament.”