The top two in Group E of European Championship qualifying clash on Thursday evening, as the Czech Republic host Albania at Fortuna Arena.

Ahead of their trip to Prague, the visitors sit on six points from three matches; meanwhile, their hosts top the table and remain unbeaten.

Match preview

Having finished the 2022-23 season with a flourish by beating Montenegro 4-1 in a June friendly, the Czech Republic squad reconvene this week with the task of moving closer to next year's Euro 2024 finals in mind.

Following failures in World Cup qualifying and the UEFA Nations League, Jaroslav Silhavy's side have enjoyed an undefeated campaign in the European qualifiers so far and are in pole position to secure their spot in Germany, albeit with five games left to play.

Prior to their friendly win in Podgorica, the Czechs had cruised to a 3-0 victory over Faroe Islands, in which Ladislav Krejci and Vaclav Cerny scored the first-half goals that put them in command before Cerny netted his second in the 75th minute to seal the deal.

As the Czech Republic had already beaten Poland in their Group E opener in March, just before playing out a disappointing goalless draw with Moldova, their tally of seven points from three matches puts them top of the pile by a point.

Indeed, the beaten Euro 96 finalists sit just above second-placed Albania, who they welcome to Prague ahead of a friendly against Hungary at the weekend.

While their hosts have a rich history in the European Championship, having been crowned continental champions while part of a united Czechoslovakia in 1976, Albania have made the finals only once before - back in 2016.

Like the Czechs, though, Sylvinho's side have yet to lose in Group E, and as they currently lead favourites Poland by three points, hopes are high that another Euros appearance could be on the horizon.

Despite being beaten by the Poles in their opener - on the back of a winless Nations League campaign - Albania fared better in June's international window, with wins over Moldova and the Faroe Islands both featuring goals from Sassuolo star Nedim Bajrami.

The top two in each qualifying group will ultimately book their ticket for Germany next summer, so ex-Lyon coach Sylvinho will seek to maintain that momentum during this month's get-together, which features a more challenging itinerary.

Following a trip to the nation now formally known as Czechia, the Eagles will fly home to Albania for a potentially crucial contest with Poland on Sunday, so improving their points tally heading into October's fixtures would be a major bonus.

Team News

Still featuring several members of the squad that made the Euro 2020 quarter-finals, Czech Republic will be captained by West Ham United midfielder Tomas Soucek, who won his third Czech 'player of the year' award earlier this year, finishing just ahead of Fiorentina's Antonin Barak.

The latter is ruled out by injury this week, in addition to star striker Patrik Schick, whose latest fitness problem will keep him sidelined until October.

Meanwhile, Soucek's club colleague Vladimir Coufal should slot into the hosts' starting lineup at right-back, while several men vie for a place in the hosts' forward line, including Adam Hlozek and Slavia Prague striker Mojmir Chytil, who has made an immediate impact on the international scene by scoring four times in his first six senior appearances.

Having recently sealed a move to Tuscan outfit Empoli, Albania skipper Etrit Berisha should now start behind a back four featuring his vice-captain, Lazio's Elseid Hysaj.

After joining Nedim Bajrami on the scoresheet in Torshavn last time out, Inter Milan midfielder Kristjan Asllani is set to play an integral role in the Eagles' engine room once again.

Forward pair Mirlind Daku and Arbnor Muja are the only uncapped players in Sylvinho's squad this month, but the experienced Sokol Cilleshi is still expected to start up front in the absence of Armando Broja. In a selection featuring no less than eight Italy-based players, Roma defender Marash Kumbulla is another notable absentee.

Czech Republic possible starting lineup:
Pavlenka; Coufal, Holes, Krejci, Jurasek; Soucek, Kral; Cerny, Hlozek, Jurecka; Kuchta

Albania possible starting lineup:
Berisha; Hysaj, Ismajli, Djimsiti, Mitaj; Ramadani, Asllani; Seferi, Bajrami, Uzuni; Cikalleshi

We say: Czech Republic 1-0 Albania

As Albania have won just twice since the start of 2022 - both times versus modest opposition - coming away from Prague with a point may be too much to ask. Despite having some potential game-changers in their squad, the Eagles lack the nous of their hosts, who do not tend to concede many goals against nations of a similar stature.


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