2. Albania doesn't have that many sporting triumphs under its belt, so the national team's victory over their big neighbour Greece in the 2000 World Cup was celebrated vehemently.
3. Albanians shouldn't feel downhearted if they lose tonight. Their country's population is only 3.5m. But if the visitors do win, the English team should hang their heads in shame and leave the country immediately.
4. And it's not as though our squad will be intimidated by hoards of foreign fans. The Home Office refused to grant visas to all but a handful of Albanians, fearing they would all seek asylum.
5. One of Albania's most famous exports is King Zog, who became president in 1925 and promoted himself to king three years later. In power he spent a lot of time playing poker and smoking up to 150 perfumed cigarettes a day. He was deposed in 1946, lived in America and then died in France.
7. In return, Albania has embraced one of the west's finest exports, Norman Wisdom, who was the only film star allowed under the country's communist regime.
8. But the 44-year communist rule ended 10 years ago, so there's no longer any excuse for that sort of thing.
10. Albanians are descended from the ancient Illurians and refer to themselves as "shqiptare" meaning "sons of eagles". If they win, English supporters will call them sons of something else entirely.