page_title: Andi Lila
section_title: International career
hierarchical_section_title: Andi Lila / International career
caption_attribution_description: English: Friendly match – Austria (red shirts) vs. Albania (white shirts) 2–1 (2–0) on 2016-03-26 in Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna – The photo shows the Albanian national football team (from left to right): 1st row: Elseid Hysaj (Napoli), Ergis Kaçe (PAOK Thessaloniki), Amir Abrashi (SC Freiburg), Taulant Xhaka (FC Basel), Ermir Lenjani (FC Nantes); 2nd row: Mergim Mavraj (1. FC Köln), Lorik Cana (Nantes), Bekim Balaj (Rijeka), Etrit Berisha (GK, Lazio), Andi Lila (PAS Giannina) and Ansi Agolli (Qarabağ)
context_page_description: Andi Lila is an Albanian professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for the Albania national team. He is a versatile player, having played primarily as a right back early in his career as well as left back, but in recent years he has predominately played in a defensive midfield role, as well as a right midfielder.
  Lila began his career with local side Besa Kavajë, where he made his debut in 2002 as a 16 year old and soon became a regular first team player, which earned him a move to Greek club Iraklis in January 2007. He soon returned to Besa Kavajë after failing to settle at Iraklis, and he shortly became the club captain, guiding them to a third-place finish in the Albanian Superliga before moving to KF Tirana after just one year back in Kavajë. He was a fan favourite at KF Tirana as during his three years at the club, and he won the Albanian Superliga title in his first season there, as well as helping his side reach the Albanian Cup final which he missed and his side lost in. His last game with the club came in the 2011 Albanian Cup final which his side lost on penalties after extra time, before moving to Greece for a second stint, this time with PAS Giannina.
context_section_description: Lila was first called up to the Albania national team by Otto Baric in late 2007; it was his performances as a right back for Besa Kavajë in the Albanian Superliga that caught the eye of the Croatian. He made his debut for the senior team in a Euro 2008 qualifiers against Romania in Bucharest on 21 November 2007. Lila started the game at right back and played the full 90 minutes. However it wasn't a debut to remember because the match ended 6–1 to Romania and the coach that had called the young defender up to the senior squad quit as the head coach of the Albanian national team just one hour after the final whistle of the embarrassing defeat.
  The next manager of the national team also liked Lila's play and this earned him a call up by Arie Haan to his first game in charge which was a friendly against Poland on 27 May 2008. Lila started the game but was substituted at half time for Endrit Vrapi. The game ended in a 1–0 loss but the Albanians played well after conceding in the 3rd minute. Andi Lila managed to play another two games under Arie Haan, in a friendly against Liechtenstein and a 2010 World Cup qualifier against Malta. In both matches he came on as a substitute.
  Lila was regular in Albania's successful UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying campaign. He played in the last 15 minutes of the opening Group I match versus Portugal as Albania achieved a historic 0–1 win at Estádio Municipal, the first ever win against "Seleção das Quinas". Later in October 2014 Lila was a protagonist in the match against Serbia, which was also his 50th international appearance; he played as a starter until 42nd minute where the match was postponed due to Serbian fans launching flares onto the pitch. He along with other Albanian players where attacked by Serbian hooligans who came onto the pitch with chairs and other objects. Initially, UEFA awarded Serbia with a 3–0 win, but were deducted three points, leading both Serbia and Albania appeals to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, who on 10 July 2015, awarded Albania with a 3–0 victory and Serbia were still deducted three points.
  After winning 0–3 at Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium against Armenia on 11 October 2015, Albania's spot at UEFA Euro 2016 was confirmed as team finished second in Group I with 14 points. It was also their first ever appearance at a major men's football tournament. On 21 May 2016, Lila was named in Albania's preliminary 27-man squad for UEFA Euro 2016, and in Albania's final 23-man UEFA Euro 2016 squad on 31 May.
  Lila was an unused substitute in the opening Group A match against Switzerland as Albania fall 0–1. His first European Championship appearance occurred later 16 June against hosts of France that won the match 2–0 at the last minutes. Lilaj also played as starter in last group match against Romania as Albania won 1–0 for first victory in a major football tournament. It was Albania's first win over Romania since 1948. Albania finished the group in the third position with three points and with a goal difference –2, and was ranked last in the third-placed teams, which eventually eliminated them.
caption: Lila (#2) lining up with Albania in March 2016.
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