The Kosovo national football team (Albanian: Përfaqësuesja e futbollit të Kosovës, Serbian: ????????? ?????????????? ??????/Fudbalska reprezentacija Kosova) represents Kosovo in international men's football. It is controlled by the Football Federation of Kosovo, the governing body for football in Kosovo. They are a member of UEFA and FIFA since May 2016.
Video Kosovo national football team
History
Pre-independence
Yugoslavian era
The squads of Yugoslavia, Serbia and Montenegro at international competitions often included players from Kosovo, such as Fadil Vokrri and Stevan Stojanovi?. Three football players as Fahrudin Jusufi, Milutin ?o?ki? and Vladimir Durkovi? were part of the Yugoslavia team that won the gold medal at the 1960 Summer Olympics and silver medal at the 1960 European Nations' Cup.
After breakup of Yugoslavia
The Kosovo national unofficial team was formed following the breakup of Yugoslavia and has played a number of friendly matches. On 14 February 1993, the first one was against Albania and the match ended with a 1-3 away defeat and the starting line-up of that match was Ahmet Beselica, Ardian Kozniku, Bardhyl Seferi, Fadil Berisha, Gani Llapashtica, Genc Hoxha, Isa Sadriu, Kushtrim Munishi, Muharrem Sahiti, Sadullah Ajeti and Selaudin Jerlini.
After Kosovo War
On 7 September 2002. Kosovo for first time after the Kosovo War played a friendly match against Albania and the match ended with a 0-1 home minimal defeat and the starting line-up of that match was Ahmet Beselica, Ardian Kozniku, Arsim Abazi, Besnik Kollari, Fadil Ademi, Faruk Statovci, Ismet Munishi, Mehmet Dragusha, Sunaj Keqi, Xhevdet Llumnica and Zenun Selimi.
On 15 June 2007. One of the most important international matches was a 1-0 win over Saudi Arabia. It was the first time that Kosovo played a team that has taken part in the FIFA World Cup and the winning goal was scored by Kristian Nushi from the penalty kick on the 84th minute. On 22 April 2006. Kosovo takes first biggest win against Monaco and the match ended 7-1 and this record continues to be unbroken, today to this day.
After independence
First match
On 17 February 2010. Kosovo for first time after the declaration of independence played a friendly match against Albania and the match ended with a 2-3 home defeat and the starting line-up of that match was Anel Raskaj, Dukagjin Gashi, Enis Zabërgja, Fisnik Papuçi, Ilir Nallbani, Kushtrim Mushica, Liridon Kukaj, Robert Gjeraj, Shpëtim Hasani and Yll Hoxha. This match had a humanitarian character, because the means gathered from this meeting will go to the affected of floods of Shkodra.
Efforts for internationalization
On 6 May 2008, after the declaration of independence from Serbia, Kosovo applied for FIFA membership. On 24 October 2008, Kosovo's application was discussed at the FIFA Congress in Zürich, when Kosovo was rejected membership in FIFA and could not play friendly matches as it was deemed it did not comply with article 10 of the FIFA statutes, that only "an independent state recognised by the international community" may be admitted into FIFA. On 22 May 2012. FIFA reverted that decision stating that Kosovo may play other countries in international friendlies according to Article 79 of the FIFA Statutes.
In September 2012, Albania international Lorik Cana, along with Swiss internationals Granit Xhaka, Valon Behrami and Xherdan Shaqiri, all of them with Kosovo Albanian origin was wrote a declaration to FIFA President Sepp Blatter, asking him to allow the Kosovo national team to be allowed to play friendly matches. The declaration was also signed by eight other Albanian footballers, hailing from Kosovo as Ahmed Januzi, Alban Meha, Armend Dallku, Burim Kukeli, Etrit Berisha, Fatmire Bajramaj, Lorik Cana, Mërgim Mavraj and Samir Ujkani. In May 2012. In a meeting held, FIFA decided to allow friendly matches to be played a decision it later revoked following a protest issued by Football Association of Serbia. Some players, especially Kosovo Serbs as Milan Bi?evac and Milo? Krasi?, continued to play for the Serbia. A new meeting was held at FIFA, on 27 and 28 September in which the Kosovo issue was again planned to be discussed, which was then postponed until December.
On 13 January 2014, the national team was given permission by FIFA to play against FIFA member associations in international friendlies, with the notable exception of representative teams of countries of the former Yugoslavia. Even club teams would be allowed to play friendlies after a FIFA Emergency Committee meeting. However, it was stipulated that clubs and representative teams of the Football Federation of Kosovo may not display national symbols as flags, emblems, etc. or play national anthems. The go-ahead was given after meetings between the Football Association of Serbia and Sepp Blatter. On 6 February 2013, FIFA gave the permission to play international friendly games against other member associations.
On 5 March 2014, following FIFA's ruling. Kosovo played its first international friendly against Haiti and the match ended in a 0-0 draw. Before the match, some players of Kosovo posed with guns at a shooting range, causing a stir in Serbia. On the eve of the match, supporters of Kosovo burned the flag of Serbia. This incident prompted the Football Association of Serbia to request that FIFA revoke Kosovo's right to play international friendlies.
Membership in UEFA and FIFA
In September 2015 at an UEFA Executive Committee meeting in Malta was approved the request from the federation to the admission in UEFA to the next Ordinary Congress to be held in Budapest. On 3 May 2016, at the Ordinary Congress. Kosovo were accepted into UEFA after members voted 28-24 in favor of Kosovo.
On 13 May 2016. Kosovo was accepted in FIFA during their 66th congress in Mexico with 141 votes in favour and 23 against.
Maps Kosovo national football team
Competitive record
FIFA World Cup
On 9 June 2016. The UEFA Emergency Panel has decided that Kosovo will join Croatia, Finland, Iceland, Turkey and Ukraine in Group I, also decided that Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia should not play against Kosovo for security reasons. On 5 September 2016. Kosovo made his debut on FIFA World Cup qualifications with a 1-1 away draw in against Finland and the draw goal was scored by the newcomer Valon Berisha from the penalty kick on the 60th minute.
UEFA European Championship
UEFA Nations League
Non-FIFA Tournament
In 2005. Kosovo has so far only participated in one international tournament, participated in the KTFF 50th Anniversary Cup, held to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Cyprus Turkish Football Association, finishing second out of three. Kosovo lost against the host with result 1-0 and won against Sàpmi with result 4-1.
Fixtures and results
- For all past match results of the national team, see single-season articles and the team's results page
2017
2018
Players
Current squad
The following players have been called up for the friendly match against Albania, on 29 May 2018.
All caps and goals as of 29 May 2018 after match against Albania.
Recent call-ups
The following players have been called up for the team within the last 12 months.
- Notes
- CANC = The match Azerbaijan-Kosovo was canceled, because that Azerbaijan and Kosovo will compete in the same group in the 2018-19 UEFA Nations League.
- U21 & U19 = Was called up from U21 and U19 squad.
- INJ = Not part of the current squad due to injury.
- DOP = Bajram Jashanica is suspended from competitive football until February 2020, cause has tested positive in anti-doping testing.
Personnel
Current technical staff
Managerial history
Bunjaki era
On 18 July 2009. Bunjaki was appointed as the manager of the Kosovo. On 17 February 2010, he made his first match as Kosovo manager in a 2-3 home defeat against Albania. During his time as coach, Bunjaki called up many new players from clubs from championships of Kosovo, Albania, Balkans, Europe, Nordic and Scandinavia. On 9 October 2017. Bunjaki after 8 years as coach of Kosovo decided to resign after weak results during 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifications.
Challandes era
On 2 March 2018, Kosovo signed with Challandes to a two-year contract. On 19 March 2018, Challandes made his first squad announcement with Kosovo for the friendly matches against Madagascar and Burkina Faso and he brought 3 new players as Edon Zhegrova, Gjelbrim Taipi and Idriz Voca. On 24 March 2018, he made his first match as Kosovo manager with a 1-0 home win against Madagascar and the winning goal was scored on the 47th minute by the newcomer Edon Zhegrova.
Kit suppliers
The Kosovo kit has been mostly red and black before declaration of independence with few changes throughout the years and after the independence the kits are mostly blue and yellow. On 5 October 2016, Kosovo signed with Spanish sportswear company Kelme to a four-year contract and was the first official kit suppliers of Kosovo after membership in UEFA and FIFA. On 16 June 2018, Kosovo signed with Swiss sportswear company Fourteen to a four-year contract after quashed the previous contract with Kelme and becomes the current kit suppliers of Kosovo.
Stadiums
- As of 13 November 2017
Records
Below are two lists of the top 11 players with the most caps and goals for Kosovo.
Players in bold are still active at international level.
Most capped players
- As of 29 May 2018
Top goalscorers
- As of 29 May 2018
Head-to-head records against other countries
- As of 29 May 2018
Head-to-head records are included only matches from 2014, until now.
Media coverage
Kosovo's qualifying matches and friendlies are currently televised by SuperSport Albania, a trademark of Digitalb.
See also
- Men's
- Kosovo national under-21 football team
- Kosovo national under-19 football team
- Kosovo national under-17 football team
- Kosovo national futsal team
- Women's
- Kosovo women's national football team
- Kosovo women's national under-19 football team
Notes and references
Notes
References
External links
- Official website (in Albanian) (in English)
- Kosovo at National Football Teams
- Kosovo at RSSSF
Source of article : Wikipedia
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