. TVA: Out of respect for viewers, broadcast it without our logo. TVSH: Agreed. Later: We are not interested in the national team’s match. TIRANA—The lines above are, in fewer words, what happened yesterday in Tirana. Our national team played in Latvia, and the television rights had been bought by the private TV station TVA (Telearbëria). Advertisements for this had been broadcast for several days in a row. The station, which, as we said, had bought the television rights, had taken all the technical measures to ensure everything went smoothly. The TVA technicians, who had connected with the central control room in the early morning hours, had succeeded in bringing the signal to Tirana. After TVA confirmed this, the parties agreed that the second connection would be made at around 3 in the afternoon. At the appointed time, TVA technicians asked for the frequencies, but to no avail. Nothing appeared on the screen. The simple reason was that the frequencies for transmission had been changed at the central control room, as was confirmed by the control room. This change created an unforeseen problem for TVA. The state television station had the device. The problem was a digital device which, unfortunately, is not normally available to private television stations in Albania, including TVA. This much-discussed device, it turned out, was available at TVSH (Albanian Television). As soon as TVA’s directors found this out, they hurried to TVSH to discuss the possibility of renting the device solely for broadcasting the match. At the offices of the institution, they met its head, who, after learning about the problem, agreed that the device could be given to TVA on the basis of a gentlemen’s agreement. But it was not to be so simple, since some other director (there are many of them at TVSH) said that the device was faulty and could not be provided. When he was told about his superior’s decision to lend the device, he said that he had the device but not its remote control, and his final word was that he could not give it to them because they used it to record material about Kosovo. Three excuses from Albanians, all different (we don’t want to believe that irresponsible people work at TVSH). This response from TVSH surprised TVA’s directors, who naturally had not expected such a thing. Not because TVSH loves its competitors, but because of its lack of respect for viewers. TVA’s final offer to TVSH was: ‘Let TVA do the bridging, broadcast it on the frequencies, and show it as your own production; do this for the viewers’ (at that moment, all the streets of Tirana were deserted), ‘and we Tirana residents will have spent nothing. We don’t want anything from you; we will have spent nothing.’ That was their objection, translated into words. At this point, TVA’s directors gave up and left their studios, regretting that TVSH had not made this happen, with just one thought: destroy the competitor. Indeed, this is a rule of capitalism, but when it comes to the team (in truth, it is regrettable, since such a thing cannot be imagined by us).

Strakosha’s and our forwards’ 0-0 Yesterday evening in Riga, Latvia: Latvia - Albania 0-0 FROM our correspondent in Riga CHRONICLE LATVIA: Karavajevs, Stepanovs, Isakovs, Lukasevic, Lobanovc, Plagonadezdinc, Ivanovs, Bul- [text continues outside the frame] ALBANIA: Strakosha, Lala, Shulku, Xhumba, Fakaj, Haxhi, Bushi, Kola, Vata, Rraklli, Tare. [text continues outside the frame]

Albanian footballers celebrate after the draw.

Hafizi says: An away draw is almost like a ‘victory’ for me. However, we played against a team that left us no space in defence, and that was why our attacking moves became difficult. The change of venue had consequences, in my opinion. Ninety percent of the spectators, if we had played in Tirana, would have been on our side, but everything changed. That is why I say this point is very important. I think the absence of the Latvians did not bring about any change in the course of the game. The substitutions made were in the interests of the game. It is true that Vata was surprised and perhaps was expecting the substitution, but knowing that he had been injured earlier and was indispensable to the team, I thought I should substitute him. But this will certainly not cause any problem. He is the team captain and is a professional. For the upcoming matches, first of all I hope to play in Tirana against Norway, because if we do not play at “Qemal Stafa,” everything will be very difficult.

C H R O N I C L E LATVIA: Karavajevs, Stepanovs, Isakovs, Lukasevic, Lobanovc, Plagonadezdinc, Ivanovs, Bulders, Rubins, Miocaps, Stolcers. Coach: Dzodzhuashvili Rraklli, Tare. Coach: Astrit Hafizi Yesterday Albania earned a draw in Riga against Latvia in a match in which our side had the opportunity to come away with a win. Just six minutes in, Bushi made his characteristic run in from the right and entered the penalty area, but his shot went wide of the post. The Latvians stayed in defence and waited FOR THIS IS HOW OUR NATIONAL TEAM PLAYED only for us to attack and create spaces for them. As in the match against Norway, our side moved the ball around with many passes, but when they turned their thoughts to Karavajevs’s goal, it was very difficult to get close. After 17 minutes of play, the Latvians came close to our goal for the first time. From a cross from the right by Stolcers, Minolaras was put in a good position, but he could not find Strakosha’s goal. While the game continued without danger and was somewhat monotonous, the best moment of the first half arrived. Captain Vata, having won the ball back on his own in midfield, shot unexpectedly from 25 metres, and only the post stopped the ball. We came very close to a goal, and confidence grew, but perhaps we took too many risks. The Latvians were waiting in their midfield while we attacked with many players, and for a moment the counterattack nearly caught us out. Rubins once, and Miholaps on another occasion, had chances to score, but Strakosha stopped them. Rraklli, Tare. Coach: Astrit Hafizi We started the second half as we had the first. Kola and Rraklli tried shots from distance but could not trouble the Latvian goal. Tare and Rraklli were marked very well, and it was difficult to get the ball to them through the midfielders. Haxhi’s frequent moves from the left to the right were attempts to find the best opportunity there. The game was decided in the middle of the pitch. He is small, where the best chance came in the 57th minute, when Kola shot and the ball went just wide of the goal. In the 60th minute Vata crossed from the right and the ball reached Tare, who shot from only a few metres away, but the goalkeeper made a good save. The best chances were also created down the right. In the 66th minute Lala took advantage of a combination and shot at goal, but the Latvian goalkeeper stopped the shot. A minute later we had another chance, when Kola crossed from the right for Rraklli, who headed the ball, but it went over the goal. In the 75th minute Rraklli shot after a cross from Lala, but the ball went over the crossbar. It was a match with many chances, but neither the Latvians nor our side managed to score. The 0-0 result was fair to both teams.

MEDIN ZHEGA: In February our team had drawn 2-2 in Valeta, with two goals by Kola. Of the Latvians from that lineup of a few months ago, only two players remained. They took to the field as group leaders. A team now transformed, with qualification aspirations. Our players have been playing together for so long, almost with the same lineup as in Norway, putting in a performance with great ambitions. The same was true against Greece, and today here in Latvia. Our team’s basic tactical formation, 1-3-5-2, suited to our players’ abilities, is a tactic that gives the game breathing room both in attack and in defence. This formation allows our team to play in an open formation and as a compact block, denying the opponent space. And that is how the match unfolded from the very beginning. In the 6th minute Bushi, having started a solo move, shot and came very close to scoring. From the outset, we saw ourselves as equal to the group leaders, even though we were playing on the opponents’ field. This was so even though the opponent also defended in the same 1-3-5-2 formation. In the 15th minute Strakosha made a miraculous save. Our team’s positioning on the field, with all the pressure to win the match, could have taken us to greater ambitions, knowing that we have three matches at home. Our team responded to the opponent’s high level of athletic preparation with extensive ball circulation.

VATA: We got a valuable point, but we were very close to victory. , but we were very close to victory. Nevertheless, I think it was a success. As for the substitution, perhaps there was also a misunderstanding, since the coach and I spoke and agreed that a substitution was needed. Perhaps he thought I was asking to be substituted. In any case, Afizi knows best, and I don’t think it poses any problem for me.