Qualification is not a utopia, Tirana has succeeded in the past as well

The capitals started their European journey with great fanfare, enthusiasm and euphoria. So Dudelange was a step back, a return to reality, but the continental adventure continues, albeit on a smaller competitive scale. Albania’s 26-time champions now have to recover from a one-goal deficit against the Bosnian side, but the upset is not a distant utopia for Tirana, as qualifying from a losing position is something they have managed to do in the past.

The white and blue have reason to believe, history is on their side and can serve to charge them with the right optimism to make the big turnaround possible. For a team that has made its debut in the European Cup since 1965, just participating is never an achievement, on the contrary, for Tirana, the expectations are always high to pass as many rounds as possible and to go as far as possible in the journey in Europe.

A story full of successes, but also failures; with high peaks, but also falling into deep recesses; with glory and splendor, but also with disappointments and despair. Above all, Tirana remains the Albanian team with the most matches won in Europe, despite the fact that in 13 cases it has not managed to pass more than one round, a scenario that risks repeating itself again this year.

With maximum mobilization and more care in front of the goal, the white and blue can add Zrinjski to the list of Hamrun Spartans, Bobruisk, Dinamo Tbilisi and Gorica as the next team that can overturn the result after the first match.

Against the Maltese Spartans in the 1988/89 edition, goals from Skënder Hodja and Mirel Josa were enough to secure passage to the next round after losing 2-0 in the first.

Meanwhile, in 1994/95, the white and blue recorded a reversal that has left unforgettable memories in the memories of all white and blue fans. A hat-trick by Indri Fortuzi against the Belarusians of Bobriusk gave Tirana the right to advance after losing 4-1 in the first match.

The earliest in the memories of the blue and white is the dramatic qualification against Dinamo Tbilisi in 2003, an opponent they beat again in 2020, in a somewhat different format as UEFA decided that the qualification depended on only one meeting. But that victory 19 years ago remains etched in the memory of the blue and white team. Tirana was defeated 3-0 in Tbilisi in the first match and hopes were small to advance further. But, with the spirit and character of the blue and white, they brought the overall result back into balance thanks to the achievements of Lic, Fortuzi and Halil in regular time, and then reached the qualification thanks to penalties.

In almost every participation in the European Cups, Tirana has produced moments that are worth remembering, and one of them is undoubtedly the crazy turn against Gorica. In the second round of the Champions League, against the Slovenians, the white and blue came to the legendary “Qemal Stafa” with a 2-0 disadvantage, only a miracle sent them further. However, the question of qualification would be resolved quickly and few thought. Three goals within the first half would send the white and blue delirium in the capital. Altin Rraklli gave the start to the hopes of the qualification, Rezart Dabulla balanced the overall result, while Hamdi Salihi thought to seal the qualification.

In the “Pod Bijelim Brijegom” stadium, it is a 90-minute that costs a lot, has an incredible weight. Either it can elevate the current players to the level of those mentioned above or they will simply remain fading names in blue and white history

Let Tirana be as dignified as the one that faced Bayern Munich or Ajax Amsterdam with pride and nobility. Beyond the disappointment of the first three European matches, let this challenge serve as the turning point, which will regenerate the confidence of the fans and guarantee the continuation of the journey on the continent’s elite stage. Now, Tirana has been called to appeal to repeat itself…!

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