-
By:
Endrit Makolli
- March 17 2025 16: 07
- Share to:
Kosovo's football coach, Franco Foda, has admitted the big problems his team has ahead of the first match with the Icelandic national team. Kosovo started preparations on Monday, while on Thursday they face Iceland in the playoff match for League B of the Nations League. This match starts at 20:45 and is played at the "Fadil Vokrri" stadium in Pristina.
At the press conference held on Monday, it was announced that due to injuries, full-back Florent Hadërgjonaj and promising striker Fisnik Asllani will not join Kosovo in the squad. Amir Rrahmani's appearance is also in doubt. Earlier, the absence of Edon Zhegrova was also confirmed.
Captain Rrahmani, due to injury, was forced to be substituted in the 77th minute of his team Napoli's 0:0 draw against Venezia on Sunday, as part of the 29th week of Serie A.
But Kosovo coach Franco Foda expects victory in the first match in Pristina against Iceland.
"We have some shortcomings, now we have to find new solutions. We know that Iceland is attacking very well now, we know that it is very intense in its game, it is very aggressive, there are good players in teams like Lille and Real Sociedad. Now the most important thing is to implement our idea on the field. Let these performances be like ours against Romania and I really hope that we will win at home. We need to have increased intensity in the game and implement our principles," said Foda.
Kosovo will play the return match in Murcia, Spain, on March 23. For Iceland, it is the first time they have played an international match outside their own territory as hosts. But they were forced to do so due to construction work at their stadium.
Iceland is a strong opponent and the chances are 50-50 that we will win at home. However, with the atmosphere of the 'Dardans' we will certainly have an advantage.
"To get a good result we need to win both games. It is important to have a good performance on the field, to present ourselves as a united team. We need to show a strong mentality and it is very important to support each other on the field and that is how we achieve victory," said Foda.
Foda also answered questions about the situation of Rrahmani and Edon Zhegrova. Regarding Rrahmani, he said that he has a slight muscle injury, and that he will be assessed in the coming days whether he will be ready for the match in Pristina.
"Of course, Edon Zhegrova is a very important player for the A team. He is a player who makes the difference in one-on-one situations and especially in the offensive he is very powerful. But he is already injured and it is important for us to find a solution with those players we have at our disposal. We need to find a solution, we need to create a team with these options that we have", said Foda.
He also spoke about Etnik Brruti's decision. Brruti joined Albania while he was captain of Kosovo U21.
But Foda said that Brruti was not in his plans for the matches against Iceland.
"I personally spoke with Brruti in January and gave him my explanations and consultations regarding his improvements on where he needs to improve, of course he was a player with perspective. He was the captain of the U18 team and also a player of the U21 team. He was a player with a lot of perspective, but for me it is more important that a Kosovo player, whoever he is, plays with his heart for Kosovo, decides for Kosovo. Now Brruti has chosen to represent it and it is his decision, which we must accept. There was no invitation for the matches against Iceland, as we have decided on other players. But for the future he was a real option for Kosovo A", said Foda.
Asked why Meriton Korenica was not invited, Foda justified that the competition is great in Kosovo.
"It is clear to us that not everyone can play for Kosovo. As we have had the case with Elvis Rexhbeqaj, Amir Shaip and Vesel Demaku, we do not have enough space for all the players and not all the players who play football will receive an invitation. But it is very important that they are responsible," said Foda.
Foda praised the performance of Lirjon Abdullah and Dion Gallapeni at the camp held in January. He also praised Vesel Demaku.
The future of Drilon Hazrollaj and Milot Avdyli was also discussed. He emphasized that if players want to play for Kosovo, they should decide with their hearts.
"All players who have played for Kosovo or those who will play, all players who have a Kosovo passport, they must know for themselves and must be decided which national team they want to play for. They can think of playing for Switzerland, Albania or Germany or other national teams, but the player who decides for Kosovo must decide with his heart. It is very important that everyone understands this. They must be determined and show character.
"I have contacts with many players both inside and outside the country. I don't pressure any player, they have to decide for themselves who they want to play for. They are responsible for their actions," said Foda.
The Kosovo national team will play a friendly against Armenia on June 6 in Pristina. Kosovo's 2026 World Cup qualifiers begin in September. Their first match is on September 5 against Switzerland on the road. Switzerland's captain is Granit Xhaka.
