Albania 3 threat to Scots
Albania was a secretive Communist state until the 1990s – and their top footballers are still far from household names.
Eros Grezda looks like he could change that after signing for Rangers.
But the £ 2mi l lion wideman, signed from NK Osijek, is injured and has been sent home from the squad to face Scotland tomorrow at Hampden.
A few Albanians have hit the big time in Europe’s top leagues.
So who are their star performers? Here are three – all heroes of Albania’s Euro 16 adventure. ETRIT BERISHA The 6ft 5in keeper was firstchoice keeper for Atalanta in Italy’s Serie A last season and, with 50 caps, has a wealth of experience.
Berisha, 29, first hit the big time with Kalmar in Sweden where he won the league and Super Cup. He joined Lazio in 2013 and was judged the best foreign keeper in Serie A.
After a season on loan in Bergamo in 2016 - 17 Atalanta were happy to shell out £5million for the star. ELSEID HYSAJ Just 24, Hysaj has over 200 starts in Italy under his belt after coming through the ranks at Empoli.
The right-back helped Azzurri gain promotion to Serie A in 2014 before joining Napoli for £5m.
Regarded as one of the best defenders in Europe he has clocked up 32 caps for his country. ARMANDO SADIKU The 33-cap striker was only the second Albanian to ever play in La Liga when he made his Levante debut.
The far-travelled hitman arrived in Spain after spells in Switzerland and Poland.
Legia Warsaw splashed a Polish league record fee to sign him from Zurich and Sadiku, 27, hit seven in 25 games before he joined Levante in January.