A rare taste of success is on the line in Andorra, as the modest microstate play host to fellow international minnows Gibraltar on Monday.
The pair convene at Estadi Nacional with the opportunity to earn a first win of the year, having suffered heavy defeats in several recent outings.
Match preview
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Situated in the high Pyrenean valleys, Andorra have only ever won seven games since joining FIFA in 1996 and are currently ranked 158th in the world.
Under the stewardship of former goalkeeper Koldo Alvarez since 2010, they sit fifth in their World Cup qualifying group, having lost all three of their internationals in March - against Poland, Hungary and Albania.
In fact, their most recent victory came in a Euro 2020 qualifier against Moldova, in 2019, when their opponents were reduced to ten men for the final half-hour and still had 70% of the possession. As they once endured a barren spell of 86 matches, though, failing to win in 13 is not an unfamiliar experience for the Andorrans.
Following a 4-1 defeat to the Republic of Ireland last week, Andorra have now lost each of their last eight matches, scoring only three goals while conceding 29 - at an average of nearly four per game.
When Marc Vales headed the hosts into a surprise second-half lead, however, dreams arose of a scalp to match their famous 2017 victory over Hungary, before a quickfire Troy Parrott double turned the game in the Republic's favour.
Befitting a state of their size, the Iberians must work with limited resources, as there are only two official football pitches in the country, which stage each and every match in the eight-team top flight. They will, though, meet counterparts of a similar stature on Monday, so can realistically aim for just a second win in their last 29 games.
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After their first of two post-season away friendlies ended in a heavy defeat to Slovenia, now Gibraltar can travel to Andorra in justified hope of finishing the 2020-21 campaign with a flourish.
Saturday's 6-0 thumping in Koper followed a particularly weak start to the process of qualifying for Qatar 2022: the tiny nation coached by Uruguayan veteran Julio Cesar Ribas conceded 14 goals in three matches, including 4-1 and 7-0 defeats to Montenegro and the Netherlands respectively.
Having previously enjoyed three successive clean sheets - and a win over ten-man San Marino - in last year's Nations League, Gibraltar also celebrated only the second away victory of their history by winning in Liechtenstein. For a team world-ranked 195th, who had never previously remained unbeaten for more than one match, that represented a sign of progress.
In Andorra, Los Llanis could conceivably build upon that, with just a third win on the road since their first official international match in November 2013 a live possibility.
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Team News
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Andorra coach Koldo Alvarez has generally opted for a five-man defence against higher-ranked opposition, in order to keep goals conceded to a minimum, but selected a 4-4-2 versus Ireland and may persist with that setup on Monday.
Centre-back Marc Vales is again expected to helm the hosts' rearguard, having added to his first international goal in October's win over Moldova by heading in their shock opener last time out.
Gibraltar, meanwhile, are set to make several changes, following a run of heavy losses in 2021.
Veteran Lincoln Red Imps goalkeeper Kyle Goldwin could come back in for Glentoran stopper Dayle Coleing, after the latter conceded 13 goals in his last two appearances, while Sutton Coldfield-born forward Reece Styche - who has so far scored twice for his adopted country - may be handed a recall after being an unused substitute against both the Netherlands and Slovenia.
Andorra possible starting lineup:
Gomes; San Nicolas, Vales, Llovera, Cervos; Clemente, Martinez, Vieira, Rebes; Fernandez, Alaez
Gibraltar possible starting lineup:
Goldwin; Sergeant, Chipolina, Wiseman, Mouelhi; Britto, Badr, Annesley, Ronan, De Barr; Styche
We say: Andorra 2-1 Gibraltar
A promising first 55 minutes against Ireland can offer a welcome dose of belief to Andorra, ahead of one of the few winnable fixtures for them at international level.
Though their recent opposition have been from the upper echelons of the football pyramid, Gibraltar have leaked far too many goals since a successful Nations League campaign and may therefore be punished by their more defensively disciplined rivals.
Top tip
Jonathan O'Shea
