The German adventure of European champion Italy will begin this evening. Luciano Spalletti’s team will challenge Albania at 9pm, the national team making its second participation in a European Championship. In a BVB Stadion in Dortmund which will be tinged with red rather than the tricolour, our national team will begin its journey with an already decisive match: Italy will take to the field about an hour after the end of Spain-Croatia, the two teams of group B who will compete with the Azzurri for access to the round of 16.
The group is very tough and that’s why not winning tonight could mean finding yourself in deep trouble starting tomorrow. “Tonight will be decisive for them, not for us,” Sylvinho said at a press conference yesterday. The German Felix Zwayer will referee the contest.
How Italy arrives
Stretcher and Frattesi recovered, Fagioli not at 100% will not be risked. Luciano Spalletti can smile after the last training sessions because he has recovered his key men, especially Barella who has trained regularly with the rest of the group in the last two days and is ready to start from the start together with Jorginho. In the four-man defense Di Lorenzo and Dimarco are the full-backs, with Bastoni and the surprise Calafiori in the center in front of Donnarumma. Behind Gianluca Scamacca, Chiesa, Frattesi and Pellegrini will act.
Italy (4-2-3-1) – Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Bastoni, Calafiori, Dimarco; Jorginho, Barella; Chiesa, Frattesi, Pellegrini; Scamacca. Available: Meret, Vicario, Buongiorno, Gatti, Darmian, Bellanova, Mancini, Cambiaso, Cristante, Fagioli, Raspadori, Retegui, Zaccagni, El Shaarawy, Folorunsho. Technical Commissioner: Luciano Spalletti.
How Albania arrives
Sylvinho has a couple of formation doubts that he will resolve only in the immediate pre-match: if Laci plays it will be 4-3-3, if Seferi is preferred, Albania will take the field with 4-2-3-1. Between the posts Berisha is ahead of Strakosha, in defense Ismajli is clearly ahead in the run-off with Ajeti.
Albania (4-3-3) – E. Berisha; Hysaj, Ismajli, Djimsiti, Mitaj; Laci Ramadani, Asllani; Asani, Broja, Bajrami. Available: Kastrati, Strakosha, Balliu, Ajeti, Mihaj, Kumbulla, Aliji, Gjasula, Seferi, Abrashi, Manaj, M.Berisha, Muci, Daku, Hoxha. Technical Commissioner: Sylvinho.
