EURO 2016 TEAM PREVIEW: GROUP A - ALBANIA

Tip: Early exit

Cult hero: When you have Paris Saint-Germain, Marseille, Sunderland, Galatasaray and Lazio on your CV, you must have something up your sleeve to win over coaches and fans. For Lorik Cana, it’s a hard-headed approach to the game that gets his teams out of trouble along with a bevy of red cards.

Star player: Veteran skipper Cana may be the heartbeat of the side after 13 years carrying the team on his shoulders, however goalkeeper Erit Berisha is the key player in Albania’s first ever major tournament. He reckons himself as a European version of Jose Luis Chilavert into the bargain as he can take a mean penalty, but you get the sense he’ll be needed more at the other end!

Player to watch: Defender Elseid Hysaj is a classy player who has already racked up nearly 20 caps for the Euro minnows, while forcing his way into a star-studded Napoli team. In a side that often includes former Tottenham comedy misfit Vlad Chiriches alongside him, he has needed to be at the top of his game and whoever lines up against him on the left wing will have to dig deep in their box of tricks.

How they qualified: The side was awarded Albania’s highest civilian award after defeating eventual group qualification winners Portugal away in their first match, the two draws with Denmark crucial in nicking the second spot from the Scandinavians after sealing wins over Serbia and Armenia twice.

Line-up prediction: Berisha, Hysaj, Mavraj, Cana, Agolli, Kukeli, Xhaka, Roshi, Abrashi, Lenjani, Cikalleshi