In friendlies with top teams, Red and Blacks draw against France, lose to Italy

TIRANA, Nov. 20 – Albania’s national football team has played two friendly football games against two top global teams — France and Italy — having a rare chance to show its skills at the game’s highest levels.
The Albanian team tied 1-1 against France and lost 1-0 against Italy, wining praise for its improving performance over the past few months.
“It should not be forgotten, even if it is Albania, they did win in Portugal. It is no longer a small team,” said French coach Didier Deschamps.
Albania, who beat Portugal in September in their opening Group I qualifying match, are now third in the standings.
Top two finishers from each group qualify for Euro 2016 and third-placed teams will vie for positions through playoffs, while all matches involving France are considered as friendlies and not counted in Group I.
The team is still reeling after suffering from physical and verbal abuse in Serbia, a game which was interrupted due to Serbian fan violence and which UEFA awarded to Serbia 3-0, after Albanian players said they were unable to continue to play in the hostile field. Neither team got the points, but it leaves Albania minus three goals in the qualifiers.
Draw with France ups spirits
Albania played a very good game against France in a friendly that ended in a 1-1 draw.
French substitute Antoine Griezmann rescued France from an embarrassing home defeat to Albania in their international friendly in Rennes.
Mergim Mavraj’s header following a well-worked corner had the visitors deservedly in front at the break and it was not until 17 minutes from time that Didier Deschamps’ side drew level.
Atletico Madrid winger Griezmann spared the hosts’ blushes by finishing in clinical fashion following a swift dribble into the area as the match finished 1-1.
It was a far from impressive display from the Euro 2016 hosts, though, against a team lying on top in qualifying Group I.
Albania almost went in front in the second minute, with Hugo Lloris in the France goal having to be alert to tip a Ledian Memushaj header round a post. At the other end Moussa Sissoko and Mathieu Valbuena both had shots off target, but the hosts continued to look vulnerable at the back. Ansi Agolli’s free-kick from the left picked out Mavraj, who volleyed over. Alexandre Lacazette shot wide for France and then had an effort saved by Etrit Berisha, moments after the visiting keeper had also denied Lacazette.
But Les Bleus switched off in defense in the 41st minute, though, allowing Albania to take the lead. A short corner on the left was laid into Memushaj, who turned neatly outside his marker and from the byline stood up a cross which Mavraj rose to head powerfully into the net.
A French response was slow to materialize even after half-time, with the lively Memushaj testing Lloris with a 20-yard effort early in the second half. The Tottenham number one then tipped an Elseid Hysaj drive round a post as the visitors threatened to further embarrass their hosts.
France pulled level in the 73rd minute thanks to a fine goal from Griezmann. He skipped past a challenge as he cut in from the right along the edge of the area before shooting inside the near post with a low, left-footed shot.
Italy friendly played in Genoa with large Albanian crowd
Albania lost 0-1 with Italy in a friendly held in Genoa just after it has been flooded from heavy rain.
As the local media reported after the match, the true winners there were the fans, the Albanians fans that outnumbered the local ones holding many national flags, as a sign that sport is a friendly activity, unlike the one in Serbia last month where fans entered the pitch to kick box Albanian players.
Albanian squad played really well, confident after a draw against France on Friday. But Okaka’s late winner proved just enough to win it for the hosts.
Italy, too, hoped for a good result after a disappointing 1-1 draw in their European Championship qualifier against Croatia on Friday.
The hosts started well with Marco Parolo’s 25th minute strike from the right parried by Etrit Berisha in the Albanian goal. Amir Abrashi shot wide for the visitors two minutes later, and then Sebastian Giovinco missed a chance for the Italians from the middle of the penalty box on the half-hour mark.
Albania, buoyed by a strong start to their own European qualifying campaign, almost grabbed the lead in the 36th minute when Sokol Cikalleshi drilled a shot against the post from 20 yards. In a lively end to the first period, Andrea Bertolacci then had an effort tipped round the post by Berisha, before Cikalleshi saw another chance saved by Salvatore Singu at the other end.
Berisha then tipped an effort by Alessio Cerci round the post on the stroke of half-time. The increasingly busy Berisha saved again from Giovinco early in the second half while Cerci and Mattia Destro went on to miss clear-cut opportunities. Ledian Memushaj forced Singu to tip his long-range effort round the post in the 66th minute but Berisha produced the save of the match two minutes later when he parried an effort by Okaka at point-blank range. Berisha was finally denied his deserved clean sheet 10 minutes from time, when Okaka met Giacomo Bonaventura’s cross from the left with a powerful header into the top corner from six yards.