Our prediction for this Nations League match:
Scotland
Match Time & Date:
10/09/2018
02:45 PM
Prediction: 1-0
Albania
For the second time in a row, Hampden Park in Glasgow will host an international match although this one carries more importance since it will be their opening match in group stage of the League of Nations. Israel will be the other contender in this group. Scotland will use the friendly against Belgium to test some players and find the optimum strategy. This is the first time these two nations will play against each other and as you can guess, neither team has featured in the World Cup this year. Overall, Scotland’s form in the last ten matches has been bad with them managing just one victory and four defeats in the last five games. Albania are not playing well either, suffering six defeats in their last 10 matches. Five of those were in the last six games. Everything is possible though in this group which means Albania have a chance, especially if they secure a point against Scotland away.
Highlighted Player (Jordan Archer):
Jordan Archer is an English goalkeeper who plays for Millwall in the Championship. Archer started his career in the youth team of Charlton Athletic and he moved to Tottenham Hotspur football academy in 2009. However, he did not see a first-team football at White Hart Lane as he was inmeditely sent on loan to Harrow Bourough (2011).
After ending his loan spells with the likes of Bishop’s Storford, Wycombe Wanderers and Northampton he signed a loan deal with Millwall in 2015 and he was soon offered a permanent contract with the capital club. Jordan Archer made 39 appearances for the Lions in the 2016/2017 League One campaign and it has to be noted that he managed to keep 11 clean sheets n the process.
Millwall secured promotion to the Championship at the end of the season as they defeated Bradford City in the final of the League One play-offs. Jordan Archer was born in Walthamstow, England on April 12, 1993.
Highlighted Team (Albania):
The Albanian national football team has represented the country on international stage since 1946, and it is interesting to note that Albania was one of the founding members of UEFA back in 1954. The Eagles have enjoyed very little success in the 20th century, but they managed to show some improvement at the turn of the century and eventually secured their first ever appearance at a major tournament.
Albania qualified for the Euro 2016 finals as they came second in their qualifying group behind Portugal, taking 14 points from 8 matches, with Italian coach Gianni De Biasi at the helm. The Eagles have never qualified for the World Cup finals in 11 attempts, winning mere 14 of 94 World Cup qualifiers.
Former Lazio defender Lorik Cana has worn the captain’s armband over the last few years and he is Albania’s most capped player, while former Chievo forward Erjon Bogdani still holds the record for most goals for the national team, with 18 strikes in 74 appearances.
