The Qemal Stafa "Curse"
During the early 2000s, the stadium was considered a "curse" for other national teams by the Albanian media, partly due to the fact that Albania rarely loses their home games. In a period from September 2001 to October 2004, Albania went undefeated at this ground. Illustrious national teams such as Greece, were eclipsed by Albania in 2004, whereas teams like Sweden, the Republic of Ireland, Switzerland, and Bulgaria had to settle for hotly contested draws in an intimidating arena.
Coordinates: 41°19′5.93″N 19°49′26.67″E / 41.3183139°N 19.824075°E / 41.3183139; 19.824075
Read more about this topic: Qemal Stafa Stadium
Famous quotes containing the word curse:
“There are lone figures armed only with ideas, sometimes with just one idea, who blast away whole epochs in which we are enwrapped like mummies. Some are powerful enough to resurrect the dead. Some steal on us unawares and put a spell over us which it takes centuries to throw off. Some put a curse on us, for our stupidity and inertia, and then it seems as if God himself were unable to lift it.”
—Henry Miller (1891–1980)