Skip to main content
Sylvinho’s Shqiperia sleeps through its big night
Ukraine's Oleksandr Zinchenko during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group D match at the Dusseldorf Arena in Dusseldorf, Germany, June 21, 2024

by Layth Yousif in Tirana 

THE headline in Albania’s national sports newspaper the morning after the night before was telling.

The Panorama Sport daily paper thundered: “Albania is asleep, Ukraine gives us a cold shower,” after the home side were unexpectedly beaten 2-1 in Tirana by Serhiy Rebrov’s Ukraine.

The 95th Anniversary Appeal
Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
More from this author
Men’s football / 2 May 2025
2 May 2025

In the shadow of Heathrow and glow of Thorpe Park, a band of Arsenal loyalists have built something lasting — a grassroots club with old-school values, writes LAYTH YOUSIF

Arsenal's Leandro Trossard (left) and Paris Saint Germain's Achraf Hakimi battle for the ball during the UEFA Champions League semi final, first leg match at the Emirates Stadium, London. Picture date: Tuesday April 29, 2025
Men’s football / 30 April 2025
30 April 2025
Arsenal goal
Men's Football / 25 April 2025
25 April 2025

A point apiece at the Emirates with both Arsenal and Palace looking distracted by forthcoming semi-finals 

Bukayo Saka celebrates scoring against Real Madrid, April 16
Men's Football / 17 April 2025
17 April 2025
Similar stories
Myles Lewis-Skelly celebrates scoring England's first goal o
Men's Football / 23 March 2025
23 March 2025
Men’s football / 27 June 2024
27 June 2024