Bekim Balaj (second from left) celebrates after scoring against Portugal, in Aveiro, on Sunday. (AFP)

Lisbon: Albania handed demoralised Portugal one of their most embarrassing international defeats when a spectacular volley by Bekim Balaj gave the rank outsiders a 1-0 away win in their opening Euro 2016 qualifier on Sunday.

The defeat was the last thing Portugal coach Paulo Bento needed after clinging to his job despite his side’s dismal World Cup display, when they went out in the group stage. Portugal, missing Cristiano Ronaldo over fitness concerns for the Group I match, were again lacklustre in attack, suggesting they lack any sort of alternative to the Real Madrid forward.

Albania, who have never qualified for a major tournament, defended with five across the back line and another four in front of that. It was certainly not sophisticated but it was too much for Portugal’s unimaginative midfield and attack to break down.

Albania scored from their only shot on target in the 52nd minute when Odise Roshi crossed from the near the corner flag into the centre of the penalty area. Balaj, running away from the goal, met it with a first-time shot on the turn, the 23-year-old Slavia Prague forward hooking it brilliantly past a bemused Rui Patricio from near the penalty spot.

Albania retreated even further after the goal and the rest of the game was played almost entirely in their half of the field.

Portugal began to look more dangerous and Nani was just wide with a 25-metre effort, then Ricardo Horta rattled the crossbar with another effort from just outside the area. Albania goalkeeper Etrit Berisha also played his part as he saved a dangerous effort from Fabio Coentrao and tipped Andre Gomes’ shot over the bar in the dying minutes.

The last few minutes were played to a deafening chorus of jeers from the crowd 23,000 crowd at Aveiro’s Municipal stadium.

Meanwhile, Germany’s Thomas Mueller struck twice as the nervy world champions kicked off their campaign with a 2-1 victory over Scotland on Sunday.

Mueller, who also struck the post in stoppage time when Scotland had Charlie Mulgrew sent off for a second booking, scored with a header in the 18th minute of a first half in which the hosts crafted chances galore.

Speedy Ikechi Anya stunned the hosts with a superb finish in the 66th minute but Mueller restored Germany’s fragile lead with a scruffy effort four minutes later following a corner.

The result puts Germany on three points in Group D along with Poland who thrashed newcomers Gibralter and Ireland who snatched victory in Georgia. “I am satisfied with the three points,” coach Joachim Loew told reporters. “It was clear the Scots had nothing to lose. I knew it would be tough after the World Cup, and we were also missing a lot of players.”

“My players tried to do things up front but we made mistakes at the back, especially in the second half. We lost a bit of control of the game. It was also a matter of fitness.”

For Scotland, unbeaten in their previous six games, it was bitter to leave empty-handed after playing with plenty of endeavour, especially in the second half when they had Germany flustered at times. “I thought we would get a point and I actually thought we would win it at one stage,” said manager Gordon Strachan.

The hosts, who had Mario Goetze deployed as a striker instead of Mario Gomez, broke the deadlock when Mueller’s arcing header from a Sebastian Rudy volley beat keeper David Marshall.

The goal settled German nerves as they tightened their grip on the game with more than 70 per cent possession in the first half to keep the Scots firmly on the back foot.

Marshall did well to parry a Marco Reus shot as Germany upped the pressure. Reus, outstanding throughout, suffered more bad luck after his injury a day before the World Cup departure that saw him miss the tournament, aggravated and he limped off the pitch. “It does not seem to be that bad but we still need to wait for the medical checks,” said Loew.