page_title: Amir Abrashi
section_title: Albania
hierarchical_section_title: Amir Abrashi / International career / Albania
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: Amir Malush Abrashi is an Albanian professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for German club SC Freiburg and the Albanian national team.
context_section_description: In order to become a national team player for Albania, not only Abrashi himself but also his parents, who hail from Kosovo, had to apply for Albanian passports. On 24 May 2013, Abrashi received Albanian citizenship along with four fellow Albanian international players at the time, Jurgen Gjasula, Ilir Berisha, Azdren Llullaku, and Vullnet Basha.
  Abrashi received his first call up later in June 2013 by manager Gianni De Biasi for the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Norway. On 3 June, FIFA gave the go ahead for Abrashi to play for Albania also in international official matches.
  Abrashi earned his first Albania cap on 14 August in a friendly match against Armenia; he played for 76 minutes as starter, helping the team win 2–0 at Qemal Stafa Stadium. Abrashi was part of the team also for the September matches against Slovenia and Iceland; his competitive debut occurred against Slovenia, who defeated Albania 1–0 at Stožice Stadium, with Abrashi playing in the last 10 minutes.
  Abrashi was called up for the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification matches against Slovenia on 6 September 2013 and Iceland on 10 September 2013. He made his official international debut on 6 September 2013 against Slovenia coming on as a substitute in the 80th minute in place of Migjen Basha. Abrashi made three appearances in Albania's unsuccessful campaign, as they ended Group E in fifth place with only 11 points.
  On 21 May 2016, Abrashi was named in Albania's preliminary 27-man squad for UEFA Euro 2016, and in Albania's final 23-man UEFA Euro squad on 31 May.
  Abrashi played every minute of all Group A matches as Albania were eliminated by ranking in the 3rd place behind hosts France against which they lost 2–0 and Switzerland against which they also lost 1–0 in the opening match and ahead of Romania by beating them 1–0 in the closing match with a goal by Armando Sadiku. 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: Abrashi (#22) lining up with Albania against Austria.
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