Silvinho, a leading figure in Albanian football, was outspoken in a recent interview about the unprecedented psychological burden that the upcoming Euro debut will place on rivals Italy. He was adamant that despite Albania's trials and tribulations in the qualifying rounds, the team is raring to go and will fight against the best on the big stage at the Euros.
Speaking of Italy, Silvinho used the words "traditional soccer powerhouse" and warned that if Italy fails to win its first match at the Euros, the subsequent matches could be tricky, analogous to Brazil's opening draw against Switzerland at the 2018 World Cup.
Nevertheless, Silvinho also admitted that Albania is not under as much pressure as Italy, but the tension of the tournament has also put the team on the battlefield. He revealed that the team is in good shape and the players are giving their best in training.
Talking about his personal coaching career, Silvinho recalled his coaching years in Italy, especially as an assistant coach of Inter Milan, and he praised the tactical philosophy of Italian soccer.
As the Europa League draws nearer, Silvinho and his Albanian team are ready to go, eager to prove themselves in a tournament that will pit them against soccer powerhouses such as Italy.
