Kosovo Make Their Mark

Ruairi Ward Examines How A New Team On The International Circuit Are Making Their Presence Felt.

A “COUNTRY” younger than any of its players, devastated by years of civil war, and not recognised by half the world. This is the remarkable story of a nation, whose football team recently put together a 15-match unbeaten run, transcending the borders between sport and politics. This is Kosovo.

Flashback just over a decade and all was normal in the footballing world. Spain were crowned European champions as they swept all aside in Switzerland.

Head a few hundred miles east, however, and the Kosovan people were also celebrating, but football was far from their minds.

After a bloody civil war with Serbia, and years of control, they had declared independence and were finally free from foreign control. It was now that their unlikely footballing story could begin.

In a country that former head coach Albert Bunjaki describes as “possibly the last place in Europe where street football still exists”, it was essential that the Kosovans could one day join FIFA.

The political issues that came with their independence, however, made a usually difficult process even harder. Serbia were still very aggrieved and world superpowers such as China and Russia failed to recognise this new state.

But the regular setbacks failed to stop the persistence of Kosovo; and in 2016, FIFA welcomed them as their 210th member.