Czech Republic vs Albania

Fortuna Arena in Prague is the venue as the Czech Republic and Albania lock horns in a high-stakes Euro 2024 qualifying Group E showdown.

The Czech Republic’s impressive start to their Group E campaign (W2, D1) promises to pave the way for their eighth consecutive appearance at the European Championship finals. A dismal 0-0 away draw at Moldova, sandwiched by emphatic wins over Poland and Faroe Islands via an aggregate score of 6-1, offers an insight into the Czechs’ rock-solid defensive set-up. Their new-found resilience could provide a backbone for another H2H win after a 3-1 romping in their only previous meeting with Albania. Jaroslav Silhavy’s players have won back-to-back home outings by a combined score of 8-1 following two consecutive matches in which they conceded multiple goals (D1, L1), suggesting his 100% win ratio in Euro qualifying matches on home soil should stay intact (W5).

As for Albania, a brace of two-goal margin triumphs over Moldova and Faroe Islands in the build-up to this encounter have been a perfect response to a frustrating 1-0 defeat at Poland in their opening Group E qualifier. Particularly eventful after the break, the Albanians netted precisely two second-half goals in both those wins. Already three points clear of the section big guns, Poland, the ‘Red and Blacks’ could make a crucial stride to returning to the Euro finals for the first time since 2016 and secure only the second-ever participation in the competition’s proper with a win here. However, that could prove easier said than done, considering Albania had been winless on seven consecutive international travels (D2, L5) before dispatching Faroe Islands 3-1 last time out.