Nikola Benin. Euro 2016. Romania - Albania 0 - 1

Slow, slow, quick; after two rounds of games, here begins the crucial third round; over the next four nights, we shall discover which teams progress to the knockout stages. “Almost all of them!” I hear you holler and yes, that is so. But it’s also so that no team is yet eliminated, which is going to make for one hell of a bagarre. Starting right here.

Teams:

Romania (4-2-3-1): Tatarusanu; Sapunaru, Grigore, Chiriches, Matel; Prepelita, Hoban; Popa, Stanciu, Stancu; Alibec

Albania (4-3-3): Berisha; Hysaj, Ajeti, Mavraj, Agolli; Basha, Abrashi, Memushaj; Lenjani, Sadiku, Lila.

Albania head coach Gianni De Biasi during his team’s 2-0 defeat to France in Group A of Euro 2016. Photograph: Yves Herman/Reuters

Daniel will be here soon enough. Until then, read how the Albania coach, Gianni De Biasi, is keeping himself upbeat by dangling a carrot full of incentives in front of his squad:

It may have been a wilful attempt to keep expectations at rock bottom but pre-tournament discussion in Albania centred for the most part on the nation’s happiness to have reached their first tournament. “A dream,” said the manager, Gianni De Biasi, on the eve of their opening game, intimating that the real achievement was just getting to France. Now they are two games in, the feeling must be some way different.

Before an eminently winnable group closer against Romania a sense of what might have been has crept in. The Switzerland match, where they fell behind early on but created numerous chances, slipped away on account of the captain Lorik Cana’s entirely avoidable sending off in the first half. Against France they defended brilliantly for 89 minutes before breaking at the death, conceding twice for a largely undeserved 2-0 defeat.

Albania's goalkeeper Etrit Berisha gathers up the ball in front of Albania's defender Ansi Agolli and Romania's midfielder Adrian Popa.

Migjen Basha does his Nigel De Jong impression much to the chagrin of Ovidiu Hoban.

44 min This is really superbly done by Albania, Lila crossing towards the back post where Sadiku pulls of Chiriches, who follows him. And, for no reason whatsoever, Tataratsanu does too, meaning that any connection - and there follows a good one, Sadiku hanging in the air, leaning away from goal - will leave him stranded. Albania go absolutely wild, and they've every right to go wild.

A historic goal by Armando Sadiku, Albania's first in a major tournament. Photograph: Max

 Rossi/Reuters

Sadiku, left, Tatarusanu and Romania's defender Vlad Chiriches, right, watch the ball fly into the net.

Arlind Ajeti (bottom) of Albania in action against Bogdan Stancu of Romania.