Albania target rare Romania victory

Albania will look to sign off from UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying on a high note as they welcome Romania in their final Group D fixture.

• Albania's record in 14 games against Romania reads W2 D2 L10 (W1 D0 L5 at home, with that lone win in Tirana a 1-0 success in the sides' very first encounter on 13 October 1946).

• The teams both scored in the closing ten minutes when they drew 1-1 in their opening Group D qualifier on 3 September 2010. Substitute Bogdan Stancu put Romania in front, but Albania struck back through their own replacement, Gjergj Muzaka, three minutes from time.

• Prior to that contest, Albania had been on a nine-match losing streak against Romania, having last denied their opponents victory in a 1-1 friendly draw in Bucharest on 23 October 1949. Their most recent win against Romania – 1-0 away from home – came in the encounter before that, also in Bucharest on 2 May 1948.

• The nations crossed paths in UEFA EURO 2008 qualifying. Nicolae Dică and Adrian Mutu scored as Romania won 2-0 on their travels, before the dismissals of Debatik Curri and Nevil Dede helped the Romanians secure a 6-1 success in the return encounter. Dică (22 and 71pen), Gabriel Tamaş (53), Daniel Niculae (62 and 65) and Ciprian Marica (69pen) grabbed the goals.