The beginning was shock, then the reaction. For a European Championship that starts with the right attitude despite the initial scare. In Italy’s debut against Albania at Euro 2024 there is everything, for better or for worse.
Dimarco’s unfortunate throw-in complicated the life of the Azzurri, who conceded Bajrami’s lightning goal, who did well to score the new fastest goal in the history of the event after just 23 seconds. The Westfalenstadion, already colored mostly red, lights up and charges Sylvinho’s boys. But the national team does not lose its composure, it reacts to the immediate slap and relies on the north star that guides it in this cycle of Luciano Spalletti: the game. And it is thanks to the dribbling and the insertions of his raiders that Italy emerged from a situation that had suddenly become difficult.
Bastoni, who was also not sharp during the 1-0, made amends with the strike that earned the equaliser, following a splendid cross from Pellegrini. It then falls to Barella, recovered at the last minute and a true leader and driving force in both phases, to put things back in order with a precise and powerful volley from the edge of the area. In a quarter of an hour, Donnarumma and his teammates extinguished the ardor of Albania, who remained in the game until the end thanks to Strakosha’s saves and a pinch of imprecision from Italy in front of goal, a non-negligible detail to be fixed in view of the next more complicated matches against Spain and Croatia.
In the meantime, however, the three points collected in Dortmund allow Italy to put themselves in a good position with a view to qualifying for the round of 16 and to look forward with greater confidence and serenity to the big matches that await the national team.
Scamacca’s work as a pivot, Chiesa’s outbursts, the insertions of Frattesi and Pellegrini are the positive signs that came from the success against Albania. In addition to the certainty, Barella was immediately decisive upon his return with the winning goal and many valuable plays. Italy got around the initial obstacle – which could have stunned the group – and, after having rectified the situation, they would have also deserved the third goal, denied by the interventions of Strakosha, good at stopping Scamacca, but also by the inaccuracy in front of goal, as evidenced by Frattesi’s post and Pellegrini’s opportunities. Tiredness sets in in the second half, the fluidity of the first half disappears and Italy is forced to suffer the return of the Albanian selection.
Chiesa tries to shake things up with an unpretentious outside shot, but all the Azzurri drop back and the substitutions brought by Spalletti do not change the inertia of the match. Albania remains in the match without creating any major dangers, at least until the 90th minute. When Donnarumma demonstrates why he was elected best player of the tournament three years ago at Euro 2021 by blocking Manaj’s desperation shot with his body, which was guiltily missed by Calafiori on a steeple ball. Italy is saved, between lights and shadows. With the knowledge that against Spain, capable of overwhelming Croatia 3-0 yesterday afternoon, more will be needed.
