Kosovo tonight launches World qualifying, first opponent, Italy

Kosovo's national handball tonight will launch its adventure in qualifications for the World 2021.

The “Dardians” from Friday to Sunday will hold three matches in the first qualifying phase.

Kosovo's first match is due tonight from 8:00 against Italy, while Romania and Georgia are in the same group.

The Kosovo team has landed in Italy on Thursday, where it has also held a training session before these three matches.

Selector Tayp Ramadani hopes his team will switch to the second qualifying phase. “The goal in Italy is to move to the second phase of qualifications. We have a quality team that's on a steady rise. We should not be content with just dignified appearances. We have to be ambitious, fight equal to each team and believe in our capabilities”, Ramadani has said.

Kosovo was also presented to the World qualifications of 2017. But who had lost all six matches.

Then, “Dardians” have also played in previous World qualifications. But he had lost all three matches from Poland, Portugal, and Cyprus.

However, Kosovo has recently noted progress. Team competition has increased, professionalisation has also increased, which gives fans “Dardane” hope.

Captain Vallon Deday wants the team to play hard in Italy. We all have to play high level. With two or three players, it's not possible. If we fight like in the games in Kosovo, then it'll be fine. So far abroad we've played more vulnerable and I hope that this will change now. Maybe it cost us too a lack of experience”, Deday said.

He has stressed that the Kosovo team from now on should not fear opponents, but seriously challenge them. Periscope