Portugal lose in 2016 European Championship qualifier

File-photo of Potugal's Nani

Lisbon: Portugal failed to put their FIFA World Cup disappointment behind them at the Estadio Municipal de Aveiro in their opening Euro 2016 qualifier, losing 0-1 to Albania.

Bekim Balaj's volley in the 52nd minute went beyond Sporting goalkeeper Rui Patricio and into the bottom corner to give the Albanians an unlikely win Sunday, reports Xinhua.

Portugal seem to be still suffering from their World Cup misery -- when Paulo Bento's team was hammered 0-4 by Germany in the first match of the tournament and failed to make it past the group stage.

Portugal struggled without Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo, who was absent due to a knee injury.

The Iberian country has qualified for every major tournament since Euro 2000, while Albania has never reached a major tournament since their introduction to the UEFA Championship in 1964.