Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in the first half, as he came into the Spanish side as one of ten changes made to the side that beat Italy last week.
Despite a second half push from Sylvinho’s side, Albania’s tournament came to an end as they failed to convert chances in the second half. The Eagles will no doubt go home with their heads held high, the tournament losing one of its best fanbases.
Albania
Thomas Strakosha - 7/10
Strakosha has had a strong tournament, making 13 saves across the three games Albania have played, and he carried his form into this performance, in part to that of the four men in front of him. Despite the final result, and his nation’s fate being sealed, it was a solid display from the entire squad defensively.
Iván Balliu - 7/10
Against one of the best attacking outfits in the tournament, the entire Albanian defence stood strong. Each member of the back four put in a top defensive performance, limiting the Spanish to just two big chances. Balliu neutralised the threat of Oyarzabal on the left, leaving Spain frustrated with their lack of attacking fluidity.
Arlind Ajeti - 7/10
The same can be said for the entire backline, Ajeti making a monstrous six clearances whilst intercepting dangerous passes on four occasions. The central defender, who applies his trade for CFR 1907 Cluj in the Romanian Super Liga, won 100% of his duels.
Berat Djimsiti - 7/10
Albania’s captain has led his team throughout a memorable Euro campaign, and his performance against one of the favourites was reminiscent of the fight and passion that the Albanians have brought to this tournament. Five clearances, one block and two interceptions rounded off a solid evening for Djimsiti.
Mario Mitaj - 7/10
Similarly to Balliu, Mitaj was heavily involved in the game, with fifthteen duels and 77 touches. He would have been disappointed with the goal conceded, where he allowed Torres to drift inside unchallenged.
Ylber Ramadani - 7/10
Another determined performance, Ramadani held down the centre of the pitch well, competing against some excellent operators in the Spanish middle third.
Kristjan Asllani - 7.5/10
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Albania’s best technician, Asllani failed to have the impact on the game he would’ve desired in the opening half, until the 45th minute when he unleashed a fierce goal-bound strike which drew a smart save from David Raya in goal.
He possesses a superb left-foot, and came close to displaying his long-range shooting as the game approached the 80th minute, two strikes in the space of two minutes which threatened the Spanish goal.
Jasir Asani - 5/10
Excluded at club level due to his manager claiming he will “never play whilst I’m here, even if we lose ten in a row”, Asani offered a threat for his side at moments in the game, but a lack of quality in the final third saw him withdrawn in the 89th minute with little impact.
Qazim Laci - 6/10
Replaced in the 70th minute, Laci was one of the few Albanian players to not perform at the level of his teammates. Only touching the ball 32 times, he gave up possession on eight occasions.
Nedim Bajrami - 6.5/10
A beacon of attacking hope for the Albanian supporters, Bajrami faced up against Navas on the Albanian left-wing. The Sassuolo man was unable to get the better of his marker, and was booked for simulation when he skipped beyond the Sevilla man and threw himself to the ground. That would be the end of his evening, as he was withdrawn in the 70th minute.
Rey Manaj - 5/10
Isolated up top in the first half, Manaj struggled to make an impact on the game. The pattern of Spanish play did not allow the Albanians to produce much attacking threat in the first half, and he was taken off in the 59th minute as Sylvinho opted for the talent of Armando Broja.
Subs
Armando Broja - 6.5/10
With Albania desperate to keep their hopes of progressing to the knockouts alive, Sylvinho introduced Broja in the 59th minute, in an attempt to grab a goal back. The first big chance of the second half fell his way, striking powerfully towards goal, Raya equal to it.
He came close to what would have been a historic late goal, firing towards the net in the 92nd minute, but his strike was saved well by Raya.
Medon Berisha - 6/10
With Sylvinho desperate for his side to fight back late, Berisha struggled to make any real impact in the twenty minutes he played.
Arber Hoxha - 6.5/10
His 70th minute introduction added attacking impetus to Sylvinho’s side. Whilst he looked threatening, his final decision was poor, carrying the ball towards the Spanish box in the 84th minute, where he cut inside before firing a wayward effort into the crowd.
Ernest Muçi - N/A
Spain
David Raya - 8/10
Preferred to Athletic Club’s Unai Simón, Raya, who won the golden glove in the Premier League last season had an extremely quiet first half. Too quiet, perhaps, as in the 38th minute he attempted to clear the ball, smashing his clearance off the back of Laporte, the ball fortunately rebounding straight into his arms.
He was tested just before halftime, saving well to deny Asllani, carrying the form into the second half where he again made a handful of stops to deny an Albanian equaliser. In the dying moments of additional time, he flew across his goal to claim a rising effort from Broja.
Jesús Navas - 7.5/10
Competing against one of the world’s best right-backs in Dani Carvajal, Navas was offered his first start of the tournament after impressing in the warm up games, where he assisted in the 5-1 win over Northern Ireland. This game was no different, the Sevilla veteran offering excellent delivery into the box.
The strength of the Albanian defence meant none of these crosses came to any fruition, but a strong display defensively rounded off a positive evening for Navas.
Daniel Vivian - 8/10
An extremely strong showing from one of Spain’s backup defenders, Vivian defended with authority and confidence, stepping up to intercept forward passes and frustrate the Albanian forwards. He was booked for a poor foul, the only negative of his performance.
Aymeric Laporte - 6/10
The quietest of first halves for Spain's defence, Laporte had little to do. His evening was cut short at halftime, De La Fuente keeping an eye on the knockout rounds.
Alejandro Grimaldo - 6/10
Coming off the back of a sublime season with Bayer Leverkusen, Grimaldo has been unlucky not to feature more in this tournament, De La Fuente preferring Marc Cucurella. However, the marauding left-back put on a vintage display, whipping numerous crosses into dangerous spaces inside the Albania box.
Martín Zubimendi - 7/10
A full ninety minutes for the Real Sociedad midfielder, Zubimendi stepped into the boots of Rodri, and put in a similarly dominant performance.
Mikel Merino - 7/10
Merino is a well-rounded central midfielder, who operates between both boxes. He came close to scoring when he drew a smart save from Strakosha. However, at times he was poor in possession, gifting the ball to the opposition fourteen times.
Ferran Torres - 7.5/10
Offered a first start of the tournament as De La Fuente rested 16-year-old Lamine Yamal, the former Manchester City man justified his inclusion as he put his side ahead in the 13th minute, slotting a calm finish beyond Strakosha which bounced in off the left post.
Albania grew into the game in the second half, with Spain held as deep as they have been all tournament for short spells. Torres was replaced by Yamal in the 71st minute.
Dani Olmo - 8.5/10
Olmo’s quality is unquestionable, the strength of the Spanish squad seeing him unlucky not to start until this game. For the opening goal, he threaded a perfectly weighted ball through to Torres who made no mistake to give his side the lead. He stepped up to the mark, dictating the play with his eye for a pass and technical ability to execute.
He came close to scoring from just inside the Albanian box, where he struck low and missed the right hand post by a matter of inches.
Mikel Oyarzabal - 6/10
Whilst he thrived in the pre-tournament games, Oyarzabal struggled against a stubborn Albania defence, managing just one shot on target before he was replaced in the 63rd minute.
Joselu - 6/10
Coming off the back of a stellar campaign for Real Madrid, Joeslu would have been hoping to impact the game in place of the captain Morata. However, he struggled to get into the game, with no attempts on target as he gave up possession multiple times.
Subs
Robin Le Normand - 7/10
Introduced at halftime, Le Normand played a key role in Spain seeing out the victory. Five clearances and one key block were enough to keep the door shut against the mounting Albanian pressure.
Fermine Lopez - 4.5/10
The Barcelona youngster shone in the friendly against Andorra in his substitute cameo. He was introduced in the 62nd minute for his tournament debut. As Spain searched for a goal which would confirm the win, Lopez was at the centre of multiple attacks, but made poor decisions, taking on shots when teammates were in better positions, or simply overrunning the ball.
Lamine Yamal - 7/10
A fair shout for Spain’s player of the tournament so far, Yamal cut inside in the 83rd minute and really should have released a strike on goal, but opted to square the ball, intercepted by the Albanian defence.
Álvaro Morata - N/A
Álex Baena - N/A
