Address of Prime Minister Rama at a meeting with the President of the AFF, the technical staff and players of the football National Team before their leaving for France:
I came here to greet you, to wish you a safe trip, and a good Championship. Above all, I believe we have the advantage that as a team, we have reached the maximum target. So – I am convinced that Gianni can say this a 100 times better than me – let others have the pressure because there is no doubt that for us participation in the European Championship is in itself winning the Championship. In addition, being a team that enters the Championship for the first time, a team that is not seen as a protagonist, and does not have the pressure that our opponents have, we have the opportunity to have a good performance.
I believe that the important thing for all Albanians who will follow you, is that you give everything you have on the field. You know better than I and those who do not playing football that in the end the result does not always say it all. What does say it all, is the fact that you give your heart and soul in the pitch.
The most important part outside the pitch is that you do not represent just Albania, but you represent the whole nation, you represent Albania, Kosovo, and all the territories where Albanians live, and all Albanians in emigration. You actually represent the dream of the Albanians, today, to succeed, to be equal in dignity and capacity to perform the same as others. After all, you represent a force that is integrated in the European Union before Albania and Kosovo are integrated, and before we see Albania sit at the table of the European family.
I think that all these truths should serve you to enter the pitch with positive emotions, without getting shrunk by the idea that you could lose, but motivated by the idea that the fact that you are in the pitch, the fact that the Albanian flags and hearts are around you in such a competition, means for each of you that you have absolutely given the maximum.
We were talking earlier about the two friendly matches. I have been a fan of Italy since long, and I know that when friendly matches don’t go very well, the championship does. I hope that this is the case of the match with Ukraine, but above all I am convinced that that match showed that we can play as equals with anyone, and that having lost that match might be much worthier than winning, as long as it happens within the preparatory time. Gianni also confirmed this to me.
There is nothing else I can say but wish you all the best. I stick to my initial idea, that Berisha will not be scored. All the rest can be fixed. In addition to the friendship with Etrit, I have another very strong reason, it has been necessary for me to love a Berisha. Thank God you came along, and I love you with all my heart, just like I love with all my heart each and every one of you, for you guys are fantastic. I am sure that you will play a fantastic championship, for the spirit you will punt in the pitch. As for the results, let them come no matter what they will be. There is no problem.
Today is the most beautiful day, just like the day when the government is formed. It is the most beautiful day because today is the climax, and problems have not emerged yet. After this, you have to face problems, opponents, and so on. You will be scored, you will need to improve, but the most important thing is being there, and you are there. There is no more beautiful thing. Enjoy at maximum this moment of your career!
This is a fantastic moment for every kind of sport and every kind of player who wears the shirt of the National Team. I am sure that you will remember this moment for a very long time, so get the maximum out of it, enjoy it at maximum, and take it very easy. The calmer you are, the lesser you will feel the pressure, and the more chances you will have to score.
In the end, it may seem irrelevant, but it is actually very important, I congratulated the President of the Football Federation on your suits. They are super. Therefore, even in terms of aesthetics, I believe that we can compete with all the teams, even with the French who usually dress better than the others, which I have noticed in all championships.
Guys, you have all my respect and all my gratitude! Bring out all of your passion, but keep as much calm as possible, for losing is always an option. We have nothing to lose. What we need to win, is showing that we are a team that does not give away any result very easily, without fighting body and soul. If we show this, all the rest is secondary for a team that participates for the first time in a European Championship. I will be there for the first match, and I am sure that it will be a fantastic experience.
Once again, enjoy it at maximum, for we hope it will happen again very soon, but it might not happen very soon for a second time. So, take the maximum out of this, for it is the climax of the career for a football player to join his National Team in the European Championship finals.
Many thanks.
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Prime Minister Edi Rama visited yesterday evening the National Football Team at the residence in the hotel “Winter Garden”, in Bergamo, Italy.
The Prime Minister met with President of the Albanian Football Federation, Armand Duka, Coach Giovanni De Biasi, and other team leaders. He was informed on the preparations of the team.
Later on, Prime Minister Rama had an emotional meeting with all the players and representatives. After the meeting, the Albanian national team of football headed towards the airport of Bergamo to leave for France.
