EUROPEAN QUALIFIERS - 2014/16 SEASON MATCH PRESS KITS - Elbasan Sunday 29 March 2015 18.00CET (18.00 local time) Group I - Matchday -8 Armenia Last updated 12/07/2021 17:32CET

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Previous meetings 2 Match background 3 Squad list 4 Head coach 6 Match officials 7 Competition facts 8 Match-by-match lineups 9 Team facts 11 Legend 13

1 Albania - Armenia Sunday 29 March 2015 - 18.00CET (18.00 local time) Match press kit Elbasan Arena, Elbasan

Previous meetings Head to Head FIFA World Cup Stage Date Match Result Venue Goalscorers reached Vardanyan 60, 06/09/1997 QR (GS) Armenia - Albania 3-0 Yerevan Assadourian 82, Avalyan 88 (P) Fraholli 58; Ter- 09/11/1996 QR (GS) Albania - Armenia 1-1 petrosyan 89

Final Qualifying Total tournament

Home Away Pld W D L Pld W D L Pld W D L Pld W D L GF GA EURO Albania ------Armenia ------FIFA* Albania 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 - - - - 2 0 1 1 1 4 Armenia 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 - - - - 2 1 1 0 4 1 Friendlies Albania ------1 1 0 0 2 0 Armenia ------1 0 0 1 0 2 Total Albania 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 - - - - 3 1 1 1 3 4 Armenia 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 - - - - 3 1 1 1 4 3 * FIFA World Cup/FIFA Confederations Cup

2 Albania - Armenia Sunday 29 March 2015 - 18.00CET (18.00 local time) Match press kit Elbasan Arena, Elbasan Match background

Albania will look to make a winning start to 2015 in UEFA EURO 2016 Group I as they welcome section backmarkers Armenia. Previous meetings • It is all even after three games between these teams, both having the record W1 D1 L1. • The sides' only competitive meetings came in 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifying; they drew 1-1 in Tirana before Armenia won the return fixture 3-0 in Yerevan. • More recently, they came together for a friendly in Tirana on 14 August 2013, with Albania – under current coach Giovanni de Biasi – prevailing 2-0, and Ergys Kaçe the scorers. Form guide • Albania sensationally won their opening Group I contest 1-0 in Portugal but have taken just a point from their subsequent two games (D1 L1). • Albania are without a win in three competitive home fixtures (D2 L1). • Armenia are without a victory in three Group I matches (D1 L2) and four competitive outings in total (D2 L2). • Armenia have not won in three competitive away games (D1 L2) since a stunning pair of victories on their travels in 2014 World Cup qualifying – 4-0 in Denmark and then 2-1 in the Czech Republic. Trivia and links • Albania midfielder Taulant Xhaka turns 24 on the eve of the Armenia match. • The nations have met in three UEFA age-group competition games, Armenia recording two wins to Albania's one.

3 Albania - Armenia Sunday 29 March 2015 - 18.00CET (18.00 local time) Match press kit Elbasan Arena, Elbasan Squad list

Albania Current season Overall Qual. FT Team No. Player DoB Age Club D Pld Gls Pld Gls Pld Gls Goalkeepers - 25/09/1977 37 Skënderbeu - 0 0 0 0 6 - - 23/11/1987 27 Partizani - 0 0 0 0 - - - Etrit Berisha 10/03/1989 26 Lazio - 3 0 0 0 23 - Defenders - Ansi Agolli 11/10/1982 32 Qarabağ - 3 0 0 0 53 2 - 12/02/1986 29 Giannina - 3 0 0 0 52 - - Debatik Çurri 28/12/1983 31 Tirana - 1 0 0 0 44 1 - Mërgim Mavraj 09/06/1986 28 Köln - 3 0 0 0 22 2 - Elseid Hysaj 20/02/1994 21 Empoli - 3 0 0 0 12 - Midfielders - 27/07/1983 31 Lazio - 3 0 0 0 81 1 - Emilian Vila 12/03/1988 27 Partizan - 0 0 0 0 27 3 - Taulant Xhaka 28/03/1991 24 Basel - 3 0 0 0 3 - - Amir Abrashi 27/03/1990 25 Grasshoppers - 3 0 0 0 12 - - Burim Kukeli 16/01/1984 31 Zürich - 3 0 0 0 9 - - Ermir Lenjani 05/08/1989 25 St Gallen - 3 1 0 0 8 1 - Ergys Kaçe 08/07/1993 21 PAOK - 1 0 0 0 11 1 - 26/04/1986 28 Paderborn - 0 0 0 0 6 2 - Herolind Shala 01/02/1992 23 Odd - 0 0 0 0 2 - Forwards - Edmond Kapllani 31/07/1982 32 FSV Frankfurt - 0 0 0 0 41 6 - 19/01/1984 31 H. Haifa - 0 0 0 0 49 11 - Bekim Balaj 11/01/1991 24 Rijeka - 3 1 0 0 8 1 - Sokol Çikalleshi 27/07/1990 24 Split - 2 0 0 0 7 - - Armando Vajushi 03/12/1991 23 Litex - 0 0 0 0 6 1 1860 - Valdet Rama 20/11/1987 27 - 1 0 0 0 14 3 München Coach - Giovanni de Biasi 16/06/1956 58 - 3 0 0 0 26 -

4 Albania - Armenia Sunday 29 March 2015 - 18.00CET (18.00 local time) Match press kit Elbasan Arena, Elbasan

Armenia Current season Overall Qual. FT Team No. Player DoB Age Club D Pld Gls Pld Gls Pld Gls Goalkeepers Dinamo - Roman Berezovski 05/08/1974 40 - 3 0 0 0 91 - Moskva - Gevorg Kasparov 25/07/1980 34 Mika - 0 0 0 0 25 - - Arsen Beglaryan 18/02/1993 22 Ulisses - 0 0 0 0 - - Defenders - Robert Arzumanyan 24/07/1985 29 Amkar - 3 1 0 0 69 5 - Hrayr Mkoyan 02/09/1986 28 Esteghlal - 1 0 0 0 32 - - Artak Edigaryan 18/03/1990 25 Žalgiris - 0 0 0 0 17 - - Levon Hayrapetyan 17/04/1989 25 Pyunik - 3 0 0 0 28 1 - Kamo Hovhannisyan 05/10/1992 22 Pyunik - 3 0 0 0 20 - - Varazdat Haroyan 24/08/1992 22 Pyunik - 3 0 0 0 16 - - Taron Voskanyan 22/02/1993 22 Pyunik - 3 0 0 0 11 - - Gael Andonyan 07/02/1995 20 Marseille - 0 0 0 0 - - Midfielders Dinamo - Artur Edigaryan 26/06/1987 27 * 3 0 0 0 41 - - Gevorg Ghazaryan 05/04/1988 26 Kerkyra - 2 0 0 0 43 9 - Marcos Pizzelli 03/10/1984 30 Aktobe - 3 0 0 0 40 7 - Hovhannes Hambartsumyan 04/10/1990 24 Vardar - 0 0 0 0 9 - - Zaven Badoyan 22/12/1989 25 Pyunik - 0 0 0 0 4 - - Artem Simonyan 20/02/1995 20 Zürich - 0 0 0 0 - - Forwards - Edgar Manucharyan 19/01/1987 28 Ural - 3 0 0 0 46 8 - Henrikh Mkhitaryan 21/01/1989 26 Dortmund - 2 1 0 0 50 16 Spartak - Yura Movsisyan 02/08/1987 27 - 1 0 0 0 30 9 Moskva - Artur Sarkisov 01/07/1987 27 Volga - 2 0 0 0 29 4 - Norair Aslanyan-Mamedov 25/03/1991 24 Almere - 0 0 0 0 6 - Lokomotiv - Ruslan Korian 15/06/1988 26 - 0 0 0 0 - - Tashkent Coach - Bernard Challandes 26/07/1951 63 - 3 0 0 0 8 -

5 Albania - Armenia Sunday 29 March 2015 - 18.00CET (18.00 local time) Match press kit Elbasan Arena, Elbasan Head coach Date of birth: 16 June 1956 Nationality: Italian Playing career: Treviso FC, FC Internazionale Milano, AC Reggiana 1919, Pescara Calcio, Brescia Calcio, US Città di Palermo, Vicenza Calcio, Bassano Virtus 55 ST Coaching career: FC Pro Vasto, Carpi FC 1909, Cosenza Calcio, SPAL 1907, Modena FC, Brescia Calcio, Torino FC (three times), Levante UD, Udinese Calcio, Albania • Served apprenticeship as an academy coach and on the lower rungs of the Italian football ladder before making his name overseeing back-to-back promotions at Modena – guiding them from the third division to in 2002. It ended a 38-year absence from the top flight. • Helped Modena survive first season among the elite before moving to Brescia, where he stayed two years before embarking on a tumultuous spell at Torino in 2005. • Arrived with Torino picking up the pieces after bankruptcy and exceeded expectations by steering them back to Serie A in his first campaign, only to be replaced by Alberto Zaccheroni three days before the start of the next term. He was reappointed within seven months, leading the Granata to safety. • Spent 2007/08 at Levante, winning plaudits despite relegation, then returned for a third stint at Torino with five games of the season remaining and saved them from relegation again. Sacked that December, he had a two-month reign at Udinese in 2009/10 before finding more constancy as Albania boss. • A one-time midfielder with a handful of top-flight playing campaigns under his belt, De Biasi was installed in December 2011 as successor to Josip Kuže. He signed a new deal running until the end of UEFA EURO 2016 qualifying in November 2013. Bernard Challandes Date of birth: 28 July 1951 Nationality: Swiss Playing career: FC Le Locle, Urania Genève Sport Coaching career: FC Saint-Imier, FC Le Locle, FC La Chaux-de-Fonds, Yverdon-Sport FC, BSC Young Boys, Servette FC, Switzerland Under-21, FC Zürich, FC Sion, Neuchâtel Xamax FC, FC Thun, Armenia • Bernard Challandes has quietly carved out an impressive coaching CV since his career started in earnest when he took over at Yverdon in 1987. He stayed in the post for seven seasons, winning four lower-league titles, before moving to Young Boys. • His stay in Berne proved nowhere near as lengthy or successful, however, Challandes departing in 1995 with the club finishing bottom of the 12-team Swiss top flight after collecting just 17 points all season. A subsequent spell at Servette proved short-lived, and there followed a lengthy spell out of the limelight. • The Le Locle native took over the Switzerland Under-21 side in 2001. The highlight of his six years in charge came in 2002, when a team including Alexander Frei, and Daniel Gygax reached the UEFA European Under-21 Championship semi-finals on home soil. • The lure of club football proved too strong for Challandes, however, and in 2007 he took charge of Zürich, leading them to the UEFA Cup round of 32 in his first season. The club's third league title in four years, and a new contract from Challandes until 2012, followed in 2009, the Swiss side securing UEFA Champions League group stage football for the first time at the start of 2009/10. • After leaving FCZ in 2010, Challandes took charge of Sion, Neuchâtel Xamax and Thun, committing to his first job outside Switzerland in February 2014, at the age of 62, when he was announced as the new coach of Armenia, signing a two-year contract.

6 Albania - Armenia Sunday 29 March 2015 - 18.00CET (18.00 local time) Match press kit Elbasan Arena, Elbasan Match officials

Referee David Fernández Borbalán (ESP) Assistant referees Raúl Cabanero (ESP) , Roberto Díaz Pérez del Palomar (ESP) Additional assistant referees Carlos Gómez (ESP) , Pedro Perez Montero (ESP) Fourth official Jorge Canelo Prieto (ESP) UEFA Delegate Jean-François Crucke (BEL) UEFA Referee observer Patritiu Abrudan (ROU)

Referee UEFA EURO Name Date of birth UEFA matches matches David Fernández Borbalán 30/05/1973 3 32

David Fernández Borbalán Referee since: 1986 First division: 2004 FIFA badge: 2010

Tournaments: N/A

Finals N/A

UEFA European Championship matches featuring the two countries involved in this match No such matches refereed Other matches involving teams from either of the two countries involved in this match Stage Date Competition Home Away Result Venue reached 15/07/2010 UEL 2QR KS Besa Olympiacos FC 0-5 Tirana

7 Albania - Armenia Sunday 29 March 2015 - 18.00CET (18.00 local time) Match press kit Elbasan Arena, Elbasan Competition facts

8 Albania - Armenia Sunday 29 March 2015 - 18.00CET (18.00 local time) Match press kit Elbasan Arena, Elbasan Match-by-match lineups Albania

European Qualifiers Matchday 1 (07/09/2014) Portugal 0-1 Albania Goals: 0-1 Balaj 52 Albania: Berisha, Lenjani (75 Lila), Hysaj, Cana, Agolli, Kukeli (66 Kaçe), Xhaka, Mavraj, Balaj (82 Çikalleshi), Roshi, Abrashi Matchday 2 (11/10/2014) Albania 1-1 Denmark Goals: 1-0 Lenjani 38, 1-1 Vibe 81 Albania: Berisha, Lila (87 Çurri), Lenjani, Hysaj, Cana, Agolli, Kukeli, Xhaka (82 Rama), Mavraj, Balaj (69 Çikalleshi), Abrashi Matchday 3 (14/10/2014) Serbia 3-0 Albania (Match forfeited) Albania: Berisha, Lila, Lenjani, Hysaj, Cana, Agolli, Kukeli, Xhaka, Mavraj, Balaj, Abrashi Matchday 5 (29/03/2015) Albania-Armenia Matchday 7 (04/09/2015) Denmark-Albania Matchday 8 (07/09/2015) Albania-Portugal Matchday 9 (08/10/2015) Albania-Serbia Matchday 10 (11/10/2015) Armenia-Albania Armenia

European Qualifiers Matchday 1 (07/09/2014) Denmark 2-1 Armenia Goals: 0-1 Mkhitaryan 50, 1-1 Højbjerg 65, 2-1 Kahlenberg 80 Armenia: Berezovski, Haroyan, Arzumanyan (66 T. Voskanyan), Artur Edigaryan, Hovsepyan, Ghazaryan, K. Hovhannisyan, Mkoyan, Mkhitaryan (71 Pizzelli), Hayrapetyan, Manucharyan (84 Dashyan) Matchday 2 (11/10/2014) Armenia 1-1 Serbia Goals: 1-0 Arzumanyan 73, 1-1 Tošić 89 Armenia: Berezovski, Haroyan, T. Voskanyan, Arzumanyan, Mkrtchyan (52 Hovsepyan), Artur Edigaryan, Pizzelli (84 Karapetyan), Sarkisov, K. Hovhannisyan, Hayrapetyan, Manucharyan (66 Dashyan) Matchday 4 (14/11/2014) Portugal 1-0 Armenia Goals: 1-0 Ronaldo 72 Armenia: Berezovski, Haroyan, T. Voskanyan, Arzumanyan, Mkrtchyan (84 Pizzelli), Artur Edigaryan (77 Sarkisov), Ghazaryan (62 Manucharyan), K. Hovhannisyan, Movsisyan, Mkhitaryan, Hayrapetyan Matchday 5 (29/03/2015) Albania-Armenia Matchday 6 (13/06/2015) Armenia-Portugal Matchday 7 (04/09/2015)

9 Albania - Armenia Sunday 29 March 2015 - 18.00CET (18.00 local time) Match press kit Elbasan Arena, Elbasan

Serbia-Armenia Matchday 8 (07/09/2015) Armenia-Denmark Matchday 10 (11/10/2015) Armenia-Albania

10 Albania - Armenia Sunday 29 March 2015 - 18.00CET (18.00 local time) Match press kit Elbasan Arena, Elbasan Team facts

UEFA European Championship records: Albania History 2012 – did not qualify 2008 – did not qualify 2004 – did not qualify 2000 – did not qualify 1996 – did not qualify 1992 – did not qualify 1988 – did not qualify 1984 – did not qualify 1980 – did not qualify 1976 – did not qualify 1972 – did not qualify 1968 – did not qualify 1964 – did not qualify 1960 – did not participate Qualifying win 3-0: five times, most recently Luxembourg v Albania, 06/06/07 Qualifying defeat 9-0: Spain v Albania, 19/12/90 Overall appearances 29: Fotaq Strakosha 29: 25: 25: Klodia Duro 23: Alban Bushi 23: Altin Rraklli Overall goals 5: Edmond Kapllani 4: Sokol Kushta 4: Alban Bushi 4: Altin Rraklli 4: Ervin Skela 4: Igli Tare

UEFA European Championship records: Armenia History 2012 – did not qualify 2008 – did not qualify 2004 – did not qualify 2000 – did not qualify 1996 – did not qualify Qualifying win 4-0: Armenia v Andorra, 12/10/10 0-4: Slovakia v Armenia, 06/09/11 Qualifying defeat 0-4: Armenia v Spain, 11/10/03 Overall appearances 47: 34: Roman Berezovski 25: 24: Armen Shahgeldyan 23: Harutyun Vardanyan Overall goals

11 Albania - Armenia Sunday 29 March 2015 - 18.00CET (18.00 local time) Match press kit Elbasan Arena, Elbasan 7: Henrikh Mkhitaryan 5: Artur Petrosyan 5: Gevorg Ghazaryan 4: Yura Movsisyan 4: Marcos Pizzelli 4: Armen Shahgeldyan

12 Albania - Armenia Sunday 29 March 2015 - 18.00CET (18.00 local time) Match press kit Elbasan Arena, Elbasan Legend

:: Previous meetings

Goals for/against: Goal totals include the outcome of disciplinary decisions (e.g. match forfeits when a 3-0 result is determined). Goals totals do not include goals scored during a penalty shoot-out after a tie ended in a draw

:: Squad list

Qual.: Total European Qualifiers appearances/goals for UEFA EURO 2020 only. FT: Total UEFA EURO 2020 appearances/goals in final tournament only. Overall: Total international appearances/goals. DoB: Date of birth Age: Based on the date press kit was last updated D: Disciplinary (*: misses next match if booked, S: suspended)

:: Team facts

EURO finals: The UEFA European Championship was a four-team event in 1960, 1964, 1968, 1972 and 1976 (when the preliminary round and quarter-finals were considered part of qualifying).

From 1980 it was expanded to an eight-team finals and remained in that format in 1984, 1988 and 1992 until 1996, when the 16-team format was adopted. UEFA EURO 2016 was the first tournament to be played as a 24-team finals.

Records of inactive countries A number of UEFA associations have been affected by dissolution or splits of member associations. For statistical purposes, the records of these inactive countries have been allocated elsewhere: therefore, all Soviet Union matches are awarded to Russia; all West – but not East Germany – matches are awarded to Germany; all Yugoslavia and Serbia & Montenegro matches are awarded to Serbia; all Czechoslovakia matches are allocated to both the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Abandoned/forfeited matches For statisical purposes, when a match has been started and then abandoned but later forfeited, the result on the pitch at the time of abandonment is counted. Matches that never started and were either cancelled or forfeited are not included in the overall statistics. Competitions Other abbreviations (aet): After extra time pens: Penalties No.: Number og: Own goal ag: Match decided on away goals P: Penalty agg: Aggregate Pld: Matches played AP: Appearances Pos.: Position Comp.: Competition Pts: Points D: Drawn R: Sent off (straight red card) DoB: Date of birth Res.: Result ET: Extra Time sg: Match decided by silver goal GA: Goals against t: Match decided by toss of a coin GF: Goals for W: Won gg: Match decided by golden goal Y: Booked L: Lost Y/R: Sent off (two yellow cards) Nat.: Nationality N/A: Not applicable Disclaimer: Although UEFA has taken all reasonable care that the information contained within this document is accurate at the time of publication, no representation or guarantee (including liability towards third parties), expressed or implied, is made as to its accuracy, reliability or completeness. Therefore, UEFA assumes no liability for the use or interpretation of information contained herein. More information can be found in the competition regulations available on UEFA.com.

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