Winning debut for Italy who overcame Albania after a terrible start. The Azzurri went behind after just 23 seconds due to a carelessness. Then the goals of the two Inter players.
In Dortmund, Italy and Albania faced each other on the first day of group B. The Azzurri and the Balkans were facing each other for the fifth time: the reigning champions had never lost against Albania.
And in the stadium where qualification for the 2006 World Cup final came eighteen years ago, Italy managed to beat Albania 2-1 in the opening match of Euro 2024.
A European Championship that had started very badly for the Azzurri, down by a goal after just 23 seconds due to a goal by Sassuolo player Nedim Bajrami. A goal accrued following a huge mistake by Federico Dimarco.
The Nerazzurri defender, in putting the ball back into play from a lateral foul, served the opponent in his own area who had to do nothing but send it into the net from close range.
But Italy was able to react brilliantly to the shock of being behind by immediately re-establishing parity with Alessandro Bastoni’s header, assisted by Lorenzo Pellegrini, and taking the lead in the 16th minute with his Inter teammate Nicolò Barella.
Spalletti’s team, not satisfied with the successful comeback, continued to grind out the game in the second half of the first half, coming close to making it 3-1 twice, especially with the post hit by Davide Frattesi.
In the second half, Italy continued to push, looking for the safety goal, threatening the Albanian goal above all with Chiesa’s long-range left-footed shot.
In the final, thanks to tiredness and little energy, the Azzurri risked a sensational defeat but Gianluigi Donnarumma with an imperceptible deflection avoided Rey Manaj’s 2-2.
Dimarco’s mistake
The Albanians’ lead goal, after just 23 seconds, came due to an error from a throw-in by Federico Dimarco who fed Nedim Bajrami in the area. The Albanian midfielder surpassed Donnarumma to score the fastest goal of the European Championship.
The numbers of Italy-Albania
