Our prediction for this World Cup 2026 match:
Spain will look to build on a routine 4-0 win over Georgia when they take on Kosovo at Stadiumi Fadil Vokrri in what could be a crucial qualifying match for La Roja. Luis Enrique’s troops are leading the chase for automatic qualification to the 2022 World Cup, but second-place Sweden have two games in hand. As a result, this has to go down as yet another must-win game for the Spaniards. In Dani Olmo’s absence, one of the men to watch in the away team will be Man City ace Ferran Torres, who has been scoring goals for fun at the start of the season.
Sergio Ramos remains sidelined with a long-term injury. Kosovo, on the other hand, picked up one point from the Greece game thanks to Vedad Muriqi’s late goal. The Kosovars, though, will have a much bigger fish to fry in Wednesday’s qualifier against Spain, who impressed in the crushing of Georgia. Midfielder Lirim Kastrati is banned for the hosts.
Highlighted Player (Bersant Celina):
After starting his youth career at Stromsgodset, Bersant Celina moved to Manchester City youth academy in 2012. Two years later the midfielder, who was born in FR Yugoslavia on September 9, 1996, signed a three-year professional contract with the Citizens, but he made no more than one appearance for the big-spending club in the Premier League.
Bersant Celina came as a substitute for David Silva in a 3-1 home loss to Leicester City at Etihad Stadium on February 6, 2016. Celina played for the likes of Twente and Ipswich Town before joining Swansea City for a fee of £3 million.
Speaking of his international career, the 181-cm tall midfielder played for Norway U15, U16, U17 and U21 teams, but he represents Kosovo senior team on the international stage. Bersant Celina made his debut for Kosovo in September 2014 against Oman. His main position is attacking midfield, but he is used as a winger as well.
Highlighted Team (Spain):
Historically, Spain have been regarded as one of top sides on international stage, but they often struggled to live up to the billing. After reaching the semi-finals at the 1950 World Cup, La Furia Roja won the European Championship trophy on home soil in 1964, but little did they know that it would remain their only trophy for another 44 years.
Following some disappointing showings, Spain finally returned to the biggest stage under Vicente Del Bosque, winning three straight trophies between 2008 and 2012, before crashing out in the group stage at the 2014 World Cup. La Furia Roja enjoyed plenty of success with their tiki-taka style of play, originally designed by Barcelona, with Vicente Del Bosque’s side packed with technically skilled players such as Xavi Hernandez, Xabi Alonso, Andres Iniesta, Cesc Fabregas and David Silva.
Strikers Fernando Torres and David Villa also had a major role to play in those successes, but when it comes to their famous predecessors, the likes of Alfredo Di Stefano, Michel, Emilio Butrageno, Raul Gonzalez, Fernando Morientes and Fernando Hierro should not be forgotten.