Euro 2016: Albania beat Romania 1-0

Romania and Albania will be hoping to turn promising displays into a crucial victory from their final Group A match in Lyon which could keep alive hopes of making the knock-out stages of Euro 2016.

Armando Sadiku secured his place in Albanian football folklore with their first goal at the Euros to spark memorable celebrations and extend Romania’s sorry return to one win in 16 European Championship games.

Memushaj forced Tatarusanu into a low save on the hour as Albania pressed for a second, but their dreams were almost shattered when substitute Florin Andone rattled the crossbar on 76 minutes.

The result catapulted Albania above Romania in the group rankings into third place.

Sadiku headed home two minutes before half-time to seal a famous Group A victory for Gianni De Biasi’s minnows that could see them progress as one of the best third-placed teams.

Albania coach Giovanni de Biasi, an Italian who has also received Albanian citizenship, broadcast a three-minute video showing Albania’s hardships under the former communist regime, their hard transitory post-communist period and also the Kosovo war which prompted North Atlantic Treaty Organisation to intervene, saying “that’s how we have been treated”.

Decades later, an estimated 20,000 Albanian fans were dancing for joy in Lyon on Sunday as a bearded striker, Armando Sadiku, scored the winning goal against Romania.

Romania face charges after fans set off fireworks and threw objects, with Albania accused of similar offences in addition to allowing a pitch invasion.

Turning control into goals was a problem for Anghel Iordanescu’s side throughout qualifying, however, when they conconceded twice in 10 matches but scored only 11 in total, and Romania would rue their failure to capitalise on a purposeful opening. Ironically, yesterday we had fewer opportunities than the other two games, where we paid a little ‘pressure around us.’ Last night, we got rid of some of this weight.

Prime Minister Edi Rama told CNN in an exclusive interview that the players had been “the best ambassadors” for the country and deserved the reward – a seven-figure bonus and diplomatic passports – after their heroics at the European Championship finals in France.

“If we stay in this tournament, we will give trouble to other teams, even very important teams”. We’ve already achieved our goal and for that we are very happy. I am very satisfied to score but the credit goes to the whole team. “I think we grew in confidence tonight”. And I believe we gave the maximum.