ISSUE 170 KOSOVO V ENGLAND 17TH NOVEMBER 2019 ...the free England fanzine produced and distributed by the Football Supporters’ Association (FSA) as part of our Fans’ Embassy service 3 ND welcome to Pristina for Kosovo v England England’s first-ever visit to PAGE Fadil Vokrri Stadium, Pristina Athis youthful and vibrant capital city – birthplace of Rita Ora, Sunday, 17th November 2019 incidentally – for a game which, if Kick–off 18:00, local time everything has gone according to England will probably plan back at Wembley last week, play in WHITE should see us already qualified for the Euro 2020 finals and able to relax and enjoy the atmosphere – and hopefully, as entertaining a ground that holds less than 13,000, game as the one in Southampton and so we can’t really argue with Useful Numbers in September. the Football Federation of Kosovo Fans’ Embassy Helpline: putting their own fans first – it’s +44 7956 121314 It’s a relatively small ticket allocation exactly what we’d expect our FA to for us here, just over the minimum of do if the roles were reversed. England Supporters Club (FA): 5% of saleable capacity that UEFA +44 7970 146250 rules say we’re entitled to. That’s a As always at an England away game, British Embassy: disappointment for many who wanted the FSA’s fans’ embassy is here to +383 38 254 700 to see the game, compounded by the offer any information, advice and Emergencies: late notice of what the final allocation assistance you might need during 112 would be, but it’s also a reflection of the your trip. huge demand for tickets locally for what is the biggest game they’ve ever hosted. It’s a free and confidential service, and if you need any help, we can be Over 100,000 applications are said contacted around the clock on +44 to have been received for tickets in a 7956 121314. Contact Free Lions Email: [email protected] COVER STORY Gifts & Postcards to: 2019 has been a big year for Declan Rice. In January, he turned 20 Free Lions, c/o the FSA and scored his first Premier League goal for West Ham; in February, he 1, Ashmore Terrace pledged his international future to England, and he won his first cap in Stockton Road Sunderland March against the Czech Republic, making the starting line-up for the SR2 7DE first time three days later away to Montenegro. Now with six caps to his name, he appears to be claiming a regular place in the heart of midfield. IT WASN’T ME THANK YOU The Free Lions fanzine is produced by the relying on its contents. None of the financial As ever, this fanzine has been a team effort. Football Supporters’ Association (FSA), the support we have received to produce This edition was edited by Kevin Miles, national membership-based organisation for Free Lions impacts on what we put in it. and thanks are due to Phil Rowley; Clive fans. We have tried to ensure the accuracy of Consequently, none of our supporters can be Hetherington, Joe Hetherington; Harpreet all the information provided in this fanzine, held in any way responsible for the contents Robertson, Tony Conniford; Paul Foley; and but can accept no responsibility for any loss, of, nor the views expressed in, this fanzine. Peter Daykin. injury or inconvenience suffered by anyone Cover image © PA Images. Website: www.thefsa.org.uk Email: [email protected] FSF helpline: +44 7956 121314 PRODUCES FREE LIONS @WeAreFreeLions facebook.com/FreeLions EXPECT A TEST AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH CLIVE HETHERINGTON? BY CLIVE HETHERINGTON CONTACT CLIVE VIA [email protected] 4 5 only one point – from their opening Fleetingly, Kosovo were Group A KOSOVO – THE KEY THREE by Joe Hetherington match in a 1-1 draw in Finland – leaders in the wake of that success PAGE PAGE and finished bottom of the group in before England were restored to their maiden qualifying campaign top spot after beating Bulgaria 4-0. for the World Cup in Russia. VALON BERISHA VEDAT MURIQI ARIJANET MURIC There were echoes of San Marino’s Having scored Currently On loan with But reaching the finals of next infamous goal against England twice against Kosovo’s top promotion summer’s UEFA extravaganza after only eight seconds in 1993, England in the first goal-scorer, Muriqi hopefuls remains a possibility. Even if when Kosovo caught Gareth encounter between is an old-fashioned Nottingham Forest they miss out on automatic Southgate’s side cold at St Mary’s. the nations, Berisha will target man who thrives and arguably one of the qualification, Kosovo have the be aiming to terrorise the Three on aerial deliveries into the box. The most promising young goalkeepers fall-back of a guaranteed play-off Centre-back Michael Keane’s Lions’ backline once again. At centre forward is into his fifth season playing in England. After a few shaky place after topping their Nations mistake after just 34 seconds let club level, the midfielder has been playing in Turkey, and he is now one performances, however, Muric has lost League group. in Valon Berisha to score the first struggling for game time at Lazio of the leading lights at Fenerbahce. his Forest place to Brice Samba and of his two goals on the night and and there have been rumours that The 25-year-old has been in fine form will see the game against England as F it is true that good things Qualifying began for Kosovo with Muriqi converted a penalty as he could soon be returning to his this calendar year for his country an opportunity to recapture his form. come in small packages, a 1-1 home draw with Bulgaria, Kosovo rallied from 5-1 down at former side, Red Bull Salzburg. He having already scored past Bulgaria, The 20-year-old featured regularly Ithen Kosovo’s fledgling Arber Zeneli equalising, followed the break to make it a contest. made 20 appearances for Norway Czech Republic, Montenegro and, of during Manchester City’s League Cup football side fit the bill. by the same result on a visit to before he opted to play for Kosovo course, England. Manchester United, triumph last season, though Ederson Montenegro where Milot Rashica But Kosovo had to settle for a 1-0 in 2016. Perhaps surprisingly, the Tottenham and Napoli have all been was chosen ahead of him in the final. Before England were made to sweat struck first. friendly win at home to minnows 26-year-old has scored just three accredited with an interest in signing Born in Switzerland, the towering for their thrilling 5-3 Euro 2020 Gibraltar, Florent Hasani scoring in senior goals for the two countries, him in the past few months. Like keeper is a former Montenegrin qualifying victory over Kosovo at Then came an impressive 3-2 victory the 68th minute, then beat visiting his only other strike coming against many in the Kosovo team, Muriqi Under-21 international and made his Southampton in September, the in Bulgaria, with Rashica again Montenegro 2-0 with goals by Finland on his debut for Kosovo. represented Albania at youth level. debut for Kosovo in 2018. Balkan country had strung together a netting the opener and Vedat Muriqi Amir Rrahmani and Muriqi, before remarkable 15-match unbeaten run scoring as Kosovo came from 2-1 travelling to the Czech Republic stretching back almost two years. down to win with a stoppage-time ahead of England’s arrival. By repute, Vokrri – who died in England found out all about it Kosovo’s Sheffield Wednesday effort by Elba Rashani. June last year at the age of 57 – in one of the most entertaining striker Atdhe Nuhiu, an unused That sequence was achieved after And here at the Fadil Vokrri was Kosovo’s finest player and encounters the Three Lions have substitute against England, they had come from behind to Kosovo demonstrated their resilience Stadium, named after the man it was he who became president featured in for some time. admitted to disappointment that beat Euro ’96 finalists the Czech once more in the defeat of the Czechs, regarded as the founding father of of their football federation the the match was not at Wembley. Republic 2-1 here in Pristina. with Muriqi levelling and Mergim Kosovo’s national side, England can day before the country declared Southgate admitted: “It was a bizarre Vojvoda grabbing the winner. expect a test. political independence from Serbia. game really. There were poor errors He said: “Obviously, when you play Yet it was as recently as September for goals, but I was really pleased England you think of Wembley. 2016 that Kosovo, with a population Kosovo still bears the scars of the with the composure we showed to CLIVE’S VERDICT Kosovo 2, England 3 of around only 1.8 million, played war in the region more than 20 come back from the early mistake. “I have been there once with their first competitive match after years ago, but football has played a Sheffield Wednesday, so it would they had waited eight years to be This is England’s first visit to Pristina, The Three Lions’ 5-3 win in the part in the healing process. “There was some devastating have been great for the others to recognised by UEFA and FIFA as a but if their maiden encounter with first meeting, when Kosovo won attacking play throughout. I thought have experienced it. nation in their own right. Kosovo at Southampton’s St Mary’s the second half of the game 2-0, There is no lack of pride and our forwards were a huge threat Stadium in September is anything showed that our hosts are not afraid fervour, both on and off the pitch, and we used the ball generally “But they are still young players, Kosovo’s entrance into competition to go by, it could prove a challenge.