The Improbables · Nation to Glory

Take Albania to Glory

“proud outsiders”

The press pack calls Albania an entire diaspora in the away end, and files them as proud outsiders. The bookmakers put them in the improbables at 1000/1 and drifting.

▶ Play as Albania

The bookmakers

The Improbables — 1000/1 and drifting

The federation's target

Compete with dignity — a point gets framed

Your spine, as your predecessor's notes describe it

In goal, a keeper the whole diaspora vouches for. At the back, a defender with grandmother-approved positioning. Running midfield, Lorik Cana, but gentler. Up front, an attacker three leagues fought over.

One World Cup, forty-odd decisions, no second leg. Pick the shape, name the squad, make the calls from the touchline, and see how far Albania can go. Free to play, one sitting, no sign-up.

▶ Play as Albania

The Favourites · 6/1 – 12/1

ArgentinaBrazilFranceEnglandSpainGermanyPortugalNetherlands

The Contenders · 16/1 – 40/1

ItalyBelgiumCroatiaUruguayMoroccoColombiaUSAMexicoJapanSwitzerlandDenmarkSenegal

The Dark Horses · 66/1 – 150/1

NorwayAustriaUkraineTurkeySwedenPolandSerbiaSouth KoreaAustraliaIranEcuadorNigeriaEgyptAlgeriaScotlandHungaryCzechiaGreeceIvory CoastCanada

The Outsiders · 250/1 – 500/1

WalesPeruChileParaguayTunisiaCameroonGhanaMaliCosta RicaQatarSaudi ArabiaSlovakiaSloveniaRomaniaIrelandNorth MacedoniaBosnia & HerzegovinaGeorgiaFinlandIceland

The Improbables · 1000/1 and drifting

AlbaniaNorthern IrelandIraqUAEUzbekistanJordanBurkina FasoDR CongoSouth AfricaCape VerdePanamaJamaicaHondurasEl SalvadorVenezuelaBoliviaNew ZealandChinaOmanHaiti