Football: Italy – Albania, match report and highlights · Euro 2024
Few surprises on both sides. The Italian coach Luciano Spalletti recovers Barella (who will prove decisive) and starts from the first minute with Calafiori at the center of defense. On the other hand, the Brazilian Sylvinho – the only non-European coach of Euro 2024 – relies on Broja as a center forward.
Dream departure forAlbania, in his second European Championship in history. After just 23 seconds, it is Nedim Bajrami to exploit an uncertainty of Federico Dimarco to immediately score: the right-footed shot with which he beats Donnarumma on his post is the fastest goal ever in the European Football Championships.
Immediately struck, theItaly it doesn’t sink. Indeed, she reacts immediately and within a quarter of an hour turns the game around. First with a header Alessandro Bastonion a perfect cross from Pellegrini, then with a great right-footed volley from Nicolò Barellahis 10th goal in blue.
The Italian national team has other opportunities to widen the gap: Strakosha opposes Scamacca, while it is the post that says no to Frattesi, who does well to get past the Albanian goalkeeper with a precise lob, after being fed in the area again by the center forward of Atalanta, protagonist in the continental ride that saw the Nerazzurri win the Europa League and close to facing Real Madrid in the European Super Cup.
The first half is full of emotions and is counterbalanced by a second half in which there are few chances to change the result. Almost all at the feet of the Azzurri, who however do not worry the Albanian goalkeeper too much.
Chiesa shoots from the left just before the hour mark, Frattesi again has another opportunity from a central position and Dimarco tries his luck from long range, but finds an attentive Strakosha.
In all of this, however, Albania’s only shot on goal remains that of Bajrami at minute 00:23, which is the goal of the momentary advantage. Until 89, when a great exit from Donnarumma denied the newly introduced Manaj the joy of a draw. The last thrill for Italy, which greets Dortmund with a debut victory at Euro 2024.
