PRISTINA, Kosovo -- Footballs newest country is hoping to be the surprise package of the World Cup qualifiers, just a few months after gaining FIFA membership.Kosovo became a UEFA member in May, joined FIFA a week later and was fast-tracked into 2018 World Cup qualifying.It earned a credible 1-1 draw in Finland last month in its competitive international debut and is looking to spring more surprises against Croatia and Ukraine, even if coach Albert Bunjaki believes the European Championship in 2020 is a more realistic target.Kosovo plays Croatia on Thursday in Albanias northern city of Shkodra as it has no stadium certified by UEFA. It also plays on neutral territory three days later, with its away match against Ukraine being held in Poland as its opponent does not recognize Kosovo as an independent state.It will be a hard game, Kosovo coach Albert Bunjaki said in an interview with The Associated Press on Monday. We know that Croatia is a good team and after three days well play against Ukraine. But at the same time you know in football you can surprise.Weve started the qualification. Our goal is 2020. At the same time of course we will try to do the best in every game, so the next one is the Croatian national team. We will get the answer after the game. We will try to surprise them as we can.It was a far from easy match against Finland. Kickoff was less than five hours away when the sports governing body finally allowed six players who had represented other countries to switch their allegiance to Kosovo now the former province of Serbia is recognized as a football nation.Valon Berishas case was the last to be resolved and the former Norway international converted the penalty which secured Kosovo a point in Group I, putting it level with the other teams after both Croatia-Turkey and Ukraine-Iceland also ended 1-1.Its going to be hard for us because we just started up with this national team, Berisha said. We are a lot of new young players who dont know each other very well. I think it will take time until we form a really good group.We made a good first impression I think and we could have won the game against Finland. But now we are up against two really good international teams. It will be hard for us but we can surprise them because they might take us a little bit easy and it might go against them.Defender Leart Paqarada also believes Kosovo has the right mix of talented individuals to spring a surprise.Our team spirit is very well and we are well prepared for the game, he said. We have individual quality in the team and thats why I think maybe we can surprise somebody.---Llazar Semini in Tirana, Albania contributed to this report.Chicago Cubs Pro Shop . The 15th-ranked Canadian men lost the opening two games of their European tour: 19-15 to No. 17 Georgia and 21-20 to No. Cubs Jerseys 2020 . -- Bobby Ryan helped the U. https://www.cheapcubs.com/ . You can watch the game live on TSN at 7:30pm et/4:30pm pt. The Flyers had won seven of eight before dropping their last two outings on consecutive days over the weekend. 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While the Sandown 500 gets a fraction of Bathursts attention, it has the same amount of points on the line and the title-chasers know it.A switch to soft tyres in 2016 and a forecast for heavy rain means the 3.1km circuit is likely to host more drama than usual.KEY PAIRINGSCar No.88 - Jamie Whincup and Paul Dumbrell (Holden)The six-time Supercars champion is again pairing with the highly-talented Dumbrell. The duo have two Sandown victories together - in 2013 and 2014 - and a series-leading Commodore.Car No.55 - Chaz Mostert and Steve Owen (Ford)In-form Mostert, the series best qualifier, partners with last years Sandown winner Owen, who shifts across from Mark Winterbottoms Falcon.Car No.888 - Craaig Lowndes and Steven Richards (Holden)The two old-timers have 10 Bathurst wins between them and like to talk tactics over a pot of tea.dddddddddddd On the track though, theyll be a force.Car No.2 - Garth Tander and Warren Luff (Holden)Last years Enduro Cup winning team link up again in the Holden Racing Team Commodore with ambitions to go back-to-back.Car No.15 - Rick Kelly and Russell Ingall (Nissan)Nissans best hope for a first Sandown 500 success in 25 years rests with popular veteran Russell Ingall.Car No. 97 - Shane van Gisbergen and Alexandre Premat (Holden)Whincups closest title rival has coaxed Frenchman Premat back to Supercars to bolster his Enduro Cup chances. ' ' '