Albanian minnows develop bite

England face Albania at St James' Park on Wednedsay

Football in Albania is a bit like the politics - violent and messy, reports BBC Sport Online's Claire Stocks.

Last year, the nation's most famous referee and the president of a top club were shot dead.

And, last February, in a reflection of the chaotic state of Albania football, disgruntled international, Clirim Bashi, claimed he had been asked to pay £3,500 to secure another cap.

  Key player: Bledar Kola

Left-footed midfielder

Current Club: AEK Athens

Scored from 20-yards against Germany

Age: 28

This pint-sized slice of Adriatic coast has been ground down for years by poverty, poiltical vendettas, illiteracy and too many poor plans.

It is perhaps not surprising this uncompromising character overflows on to the football field.

Pitch brawling has been a problem in the past.

In 1998, the players of newly-promoted Burreli threatened to go on hunger-strike in protest at a four-match home-ground ban imposed because of crowd disturbances.

But it would be a mistake to dismiss Albania as nothing but fired-up underdogs with a chip on their shoulder.

Their free-flowing performance against Germany away from home proved these minnows of European football have moved beyond just scrapping it out.

  Key player: Igli Tare

Imposing centre-forward

Set up goal against Germany

Current club: Brescia (Serie A)

Former club: Kaiserslautern (Bundesliga)

Helped Kaiserslautern to memorable 2-1 injury time win over Spurs in 1999

Age: 27

And when England won 3-1 in Tirana in March, the Albanians gave Sven Goran Eriksson's side a scare when they had a "goal" disallowed for offside that would have made the score 2-2.

It is also a measure of how far they have come since Bobby Robson's side swept them aside in 1989 on the way to the World Cup finals, that Albania coach Medin Zhega was disappointed not to get at least a point in Leverkusen, when Germany snatched a late winner to record a 2-1 victory.

It was the second time in 12 months Albania have been tied with the Germans with 10 minutes to go only to end up losing.

Against Finland they managed something England did not - scoring in Helsinki, although again they lost 2-1.

It has not been easy to play football in Albania given the instability in the Balkans.

Civil unrest in 1997 led to Albanian clubs being banned from European competition and the national team were ordered to play their internationals on neutral territory.

  Key player: Alban Bushi

Striker dangerous from long-range

Voted Albania's most popular footballer in 1999

Current club: Istanbulspor (Turkey)

League goals: 8

Age: 27

The city is host to the country's best club side, SK Tirana, who have won the league title 19 times and are leading again this season.

Most of the Albanian team are on the fringes of top flight football, three are in Germany, two in Belgium, two in Greece and one in each of Turkey, France, Italy, France and Cyprus.

Possibly the Albanian player best known in Britain is central defender Rudi Vata, who played at Celtic between 1992 and 96 and has 56 caps.

  Key player: Altin Rrakli

Striker will be Albania's most experienced outfield player

Current club: Unterhaching (Bundesliga)

His age means he may be limited to a late substitute's role

International goals: 8

International caps: 44

Age 30

Albania still have plenty to offer, especially in the form of imposing Brescia striker Igli Tare and AEK Athens midfielder Bledar Kola, who scored a cracking half-volley against Germany.

Vata's claims that the Albanians played "like Brazilians" against Germany were perhaps a trifle over-egged, but they did dominate for long periods.

But it is clear Albania - a country on which a long line of invaders have left their bootprints from the Romans to the Ottomans - feel it is time they were respected on the international stage.

"The times when we were the minnows everybody could beat are over," warns striker Tare.

  Key player: Foto Strakosha

Goalkeeper

Current club: Ionikos (Greece)

Good shot stopper but flaps under high ball

International caps: 46

International goals: 0

Age: 36

Albania's historic 2-0 win over Greece last November sparked mass celebrations in the streets of Tirana.

Normally residents and visitors are warned to avoid large-scale gatherings because of the frequence of armed robberies, assaults, mobster assassinations, bombings and carjackings.

Prime Minister Ilir Meta issued a £7,000 bonus per man for that victory - about five times the average annual income - but the Albanians clearly have more than money motivating them.

But on Wednesday, they meet an England side rejuvenated by the 5-1 victory in Germany.