Sunday’s group A encounter between Romania and Albania will mark the start of the culmination of the group stages in the UEFA Euro 2016. With Albania having no points in the bag courtesy of two 1-0 defeats at the hands of France and Switzerland, qualification for the next round is seemingly impossible.
Romania drew 1-1 with the Swiss after their narrow opening day loss to hosts France. Victory will, in all probability, ensure progression to the next round for the Romanians.
Group A is quite evenly poised with respect to chances for qualification. While France have already secured a berth in the next round, Switzerland are also in pole position to make it as the 2nd or 3rd placed team in the group. Victory for Romania and a loss for Switzerland with an apropos change in goal difference would see Romania clinch the second position.
For Albania, only victory would leave them with a mathematical chance of progression, depending upon how other 3rd placed teams fare in their respective groups. Let’s take a look at 5 players who will play a significant role in deciding the outcome of this crucial encounter.
#1 Vlad Chiriches
Ardent followers of the English Premier League might remember Vlad Chiriches playing for Tottenham in 2013-2015. Two unremarkable seasons at Spurs saw him move on to Napoli in the Serie A. Although only a fringe player at Napoli in the past 2 seasons, Chiriches has been reliable when called upon.
While Chiriches does not get much game time for his club, he has been a pivotal figure for his national team in recent times. Having made his debut during Euro qualifying in 2011 against Luxembourg, Chiriches has gone on to make 42 appearances for Romania. He has also led the side ably in the absence of other senior figures.
A typical no-nonsense defender of the 1980’s mould, Chiriches puts everything into a tackle and takes no prisoners. The 2013 Romanian player of the year will need to marshal his defences ably to ensure Albania’s counter-attacking raids do not end up with the ball in the Romanian net as an end product.
#2 Nicusor Stanciu
Nicusor Stanciu is somewhat a recent addition to the Romanian senior national team, having made his senior debut in March 2016. Since his debut, he boasts of an impressive goal-scoring return of 4 goals in 6 appearances. The diminutive winger is only 1.70 metres tall, and this allows him to have a lower centre of gravity, greatly assisting his dribbling abilities.
Although mainly deployed as an attacking midfielder to provide service for the forwards, he is also adept at playing down both the wings. His speed and crossing abilities will play a crucial role for Romania in their search for goals. At 23, Stanciu’s career is in its infancy.
But a stellar season with Steaua Bucharest has seen his stock rise rapidly. In the recently concluded season, in 38 appearances he scored 14 goals and provided 11 assists. Such figures will make it only a matter of time before the big guns of European football come calling. Romanian fans will be hoping the talented youngster can provide some moments of inspiration to see their side over the line in this crucial encounter.
#3 Bogdan Stancu
Often confused with his team-mate Nicusor Stanciu, Bogdan Stancu poses the greatest threat to the Albanian defence, as Romania’s centre forward. The 28-year-old Stancu has scored 11 goals in 42 matches for the national team.
Stancu created history against Switzerland when he became the first Romanian to score twice in the European Championship. Goals against France and Switzerland in the opening two fixtures for Romania helped him achieve this feat. Having made his international debut in 2010, Stancu has become an important member of the attacking ensemble for Romania.
A penalty specialist of sorts, expect Romania to breathe easy if they manage a spot kick, for Stancu will score in all probability. Stancu currently plies his trade in the Turkish SuperLig with Gençlerbirlii. He managed 10 goals and 5 assists in 30 appearances in 2015-16.
Romanian fans will be hoping Stancu will get enough decent passes in the final third in order to make an impact in front of goal, come Sunday.
#4 Lorik Cana
Easily the most recognisable face in the Albanian ranks, captain Lorik Cana will have to play a decisive role tonight if his team are to make it through to the next round. Having played for a multitude of top clubs in France and England, including rivals Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique Marseille, Cana is no stranger to the pressure of playing at the highest level.
Having started out as a defensive midfielder, Cana has in recent times shifted to centre back, to shore up an otherwise weak Albanian defence. Cana has managed 1 goal in 91 appearances for the national team, and is Albania’s most capped player.
Tactically astute, Cana reads the game well and is good at seeing a dangerous pass and intercepting it. Cana’s leadership at the heart of his defence is the primary reason behind Albania still being in with a shout of qualifying for the next round, despite many having written off the minnows as the whipping boys of the tournament.
Cana will have to use all his experience and guile to ensure Romania find no way through the Albanian backline, as well as inspire his teammates to somehow manage a fairytale win.
#5 Amir Abrashi
Abrashi plays for SC Freiburg who secured promotion back to the Bundesliga in 2015-16. Probably the hardest working player in the Albanian ranks, the 26-year-old central midfielder ran an amazing 331 kilometres in 28 matches for Freiburg last season.
Having dual nationality, Abrashi had represented Switzerland U21 in Euro 2013. But indecision on the part of Ottmar Hitzfeld regarding his future in the senior national team led him to choose Albania instead. Abrashi won the German second tier in 2015-16 and has also won the Swiss league or Schweizer Pokal with Grasshopper in 2012-13.
The son of a Swiss immigrant from Kosovo, Abrashi is no stranger to hardships, and it is his difficult childhood that had a profound impact on his playing style. His never say die attitude stems from his father’s stern advice to him to never surrender and fight till the final outcome is decided.
On Sunday, one can be certain that while Abrashi is on the pitch, the Romanians will not have a moments’ peace on the ball. Having made his senior debut in 2013, Abrashi has gone on to make 19 appearances for Albania, and is yet to find the back of the net.
