Ahead of the clash with Latvia, which will be played on Tuesday, September 9, at “Air Albania,” Albania’s coach Sylvinho appeared before the media to analyze the team’s condition and expectations for this 2026 World Cup qualifying match.

The Brazilian coach highlighted the seriousness of the encounter, stressing that Latvia is a physically strong and well-organized team on the field. He underlined that they should not be underestimated, recalling their performance against Serbia, where the result was very close.

“Results like Spain’s six-goal win happen rarely. We are not at that level yet. Latvia is an opponent that fights for every ball, and we have to be very careful,” said Sylvinho.

Referring to the previous match against Gibraltar, where Albania struggled to secure victory, the coach emphasized that putting pressure on young players is unfair: “We had some debutants. Medon Berisha, for example, played as a starter for the first time. I expected more, but it’s difficult to demand convincing victories from those who are just joining the team.”

Regarding the lineup for the match against Latvia, the Brazilian coach stressed that the starting formation has not yet been decided but announced that there will be some changes both in defense and in attack.

“The team has changed a lot in these two and a half years. Young players are coming in, and this is a natural process. We still have work to do. Even players who are not playing regularly at their clubs can be part of our plans if they show commitment and quality,” he said.

When asked whether this match is like a “final” for him, Sylvinho did not comment directly but emphasized the importance of every game at this stage.

“When you are competing for a World Cup, every match is crucial. Small mistakes cost a lot. We must stay united and go out there to win. We cannot think about the coming months. What matters is tomorrow,” he concluded.