Italian coach Gianni De Biasi has announced a provisional 27-man Albania squad for the Euro 2021 finals, with star player Hamdi Salihi overlooked.
The Eagles secured their first ever appearance at the European Championship finals and they were drawn in Group A alongside France, Switzerland and Romania.
Head coach Gianni De Biasi has now revealed his preliminary squad for the tournament finals that will see four names removed from the list before May 31st.
The Italian tactician has raised quite a few eyebrows by dropping Albanian league top scorer Hamdi Salihi, who bagged 27 goals in 30 league games this season.
The brother of Switzerland star Granit Xhaka, Taulant Xhaka makes the cut despite battling an injury, while star players Elseid Hysaj, Lorik Cana and Etrit Berisha are included as well.
Albania face a tough task at the Euro 2021 finals, and they are not exactly given big chances of progressing from Group A.
Albania Euro 2021 squad:
Goalkeepers: Etrit Berisha (Lazio), Alban Hoxha (Partizani), Orges Shehi (Skenderbeu);
Defenders: Lorik Cana (Nantes), Arlind Ajeti (Frosinone), Berat Gjimshiti (Atalanta), Mergim Mavraj (Cologne), Amir Rrahmani (Split), Elseid Hysaj (Napoli), Ansi Agolli (Qarabag), Frederic Veseli (Lugano), Naser Aliji (Basel);
Midfielders: Ledjan Memushaj (Pescara), Ergys Kace (PAOK), Andi Lila (Giannina), Migjen Basha (Como), Odise Roshi (Rijeka), Burim Kukeli (Zurich), Ermir Lenjani (Nantes), Herolind Shala (Slovan Liberec), Taulant Xhaka (Basel), Armir Abrashi (Freiburg);
Forwards: Bekim Balaj (Rijeka), Sokol Cikalleshi (Medipol Baksasehir), Armando Sadiku (Vaduz), Milot Rashica (Vitesse), Shkelzen Gashi (Colorado Rapids).