Italy beats Albania 2-1 in Dortmund for the debut of the Azzurri at the European Football Championships THE NEWS
“Sometimes we liked each other too much: we take the advantage and don’t realize it. When we have to go one-on-one or cut back, if we go all the way…And instead when we feel in control.” Luciano Spalletti said this after the victory over Albania. “We won a match that could have been won even better – the coach told Sky – we behaved lightly. bischerata we always have it in our hands, when we are in control, when we dribble comfortably, it’s mathematical the trick…. that’s how we are made.”
Italy-Albania
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GOAL
At 16′ ITALY-Albania 2-1! Stretcher Network! The Azzurri have already overturned the result thanks to a pearl from the Inter midfielder, who smashes the goal from outside the area, taking advantage of an imperfect recovery from the Albanian defense to blast Strakosha with a precise right-footed volley.
In the 11th minute ITALY-Albania 1-1! Network of Sticks! Splendid cross from the left by Lorenzo Pellegrini and winning strike from two steps by the Inter central defender, who immediately puts things back on track for the Azzurri.
At 1′! Italy-ALBANIA 0-1! Bajrami network! Sensational error by Dimarco, who with a crazy back pass paves the way for the Albanian attacking midfielder’s strong conclusion into the top corner: a very tough start for the Azzurri.
Euro 2024
THE MATCH
A horror film start canceled out by a reaction from European champions. After conceding the fastest goal in its history and in the European Championships _ just 23” – Italy overturns Albania in a few minutes and takes the first match of Euro 2024, giving proof of great courage, substance and technique in a stadium, that of Dortmund, colored almost entirely in the red of the Eagles national team. Albania lasts practically 23 seconds, those of Bajrami’s instant goal launched into the goal from Dimarco’s crazy throw-in. Then there are only the Azzurri who take it back in a quarter of an hourwith a nice header from Bastoni and the 2-1 scored by Barella which dispels all doubts about his condition in the days of the training camp in Iserlohn.
Bastoni’s equalizer
From here on, Spalletti’s boys came close to scoring the third goal several times, while the red eagles almost never flew near Donnarumma except in a heart-pounding final, when on two occasions they made the Azzurri tremble. Here are three golden points to get off to a great start to Group B where Spain, their next opponent on 20 June in Gelsenkirchen, is already causing fear with a 3-0 win over Croatia. Barella’s leadership should be underlined, Calafiori’s proof of character at the center of defense, and Pellegrini always proactive. Spalletti confirms the lineup planned the day before: Riccardo Calafiori at the center of the defense and Gianluca Scamacca at the center of the attack, with Barella in midfield together with Pellegrini and Frattesi. Sylvinho places Broja and Seferi in front and chooses Strakosha in goal behind the ‘Italians’ Dmjinsiti and Hysaj. TOTragic start for Italy which conceded the fastest goal in the history of the European Football Championships. Sensational blunder by Dimarco who badly beats the lateral foul, giving the ball in the area to Bajrami, with a strong right-footed shot to the near post that beats Donnarumma. Nightmare start for the Azzurri who, however, immediately react to the disadvantage. Chiesa goes to the right, low cross to the center of the area for Scamacca who with a veil frees all alone for Pellegrini, a right-footed shot from the Roma number 10 which ends up just wide.
Stretcher
Ten minutes and Spalletti’s boys equalise: corner taken short with Dimarco touching for Pellegrini, brushstroke to the far post which finds all alone Bastoni who doesn’t even have to jump and heads it into the far post. Having reached 1-1, the Azzurri get together and immediately turn it around with Barella: deflected cross from the right that finds Dimarco at the far post, the ball is backwards but the number 3 manages to touch it towards the Inter midfielder at the edge of the area: beautiful right-footed volley from the number 18 who scores just wide of the post, leaving the Albanian goalkeeper stationary. With Italy in the lead, Albania starts again and Pellegrini gets the first yellow of the tournament by knocking out Broja launched on the counterattack. The Azzurri don’t stop, even coming close to making it 3-1 after half an hour: a great ball from Scamacca, which finds its way onto the right of Frattesi’s area, a touch underneath from the Azzurri number 7 which is decisively touched by Strakosha, the the ball hits the post and returns to the field. A few minutes and it’s Scamacca’s turn who is one step away from the 3-1 which didn’t arrive in the first half despite the constant and dangerous initiative of Spalletti’s team.
Azzurri fans at the Dortmund stadium
The second half began as the first 45 minutes ended with the constant initiative of the Azzurri who were getting closer and closer to the third goal. Chiesa and Scamacca try again, the minutes pass and the game falls asleep. Italy maintains the initiative, risking practically nothing, also finding it difficult to find space in attack but forcing the Albanians into a few too many fouls. With a quarter of an hour to go the first changes for the Azzurri, Cambiaso for Chiesa on the right wing and Cristante for Pellegrini in midfield. Then here is Retegui for Scamacca and Darmian for Dimarco. Albania comes close to equalizing in the final with Manaj, there is also an invasion of the pitch by an Eagles fan, but the result does not change, and the match ends with a 2-1 which is tight for the Azzurri but is worth three points fundamental to best prepare for the super challenge with the Red Furies of Spain. The celebration, after the red one of the Albanians in the afternoon, is all tricolour.
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