Italy emerged victorious in their Euro 2024 Group B opener by defeating Albania 2-1 at the Signal Iduna Park stadium in Dortmund. This highly-anticipated match, officiated by German referee Felix Zwayer, began with a historic start as Albania scored the fastest goal in tournament history just 23 seconds into the game. Nedim Bajrami intercepted a loose ball from Federico Dimarco and sent it to the upper left corner of Gianluigi Donnarumma’s net.
The Albanian goal set a new record, surpassing the previous fastest goal scored by Russian Dmitri Kirichenko in the 2004 edition of the Euro. Despite this early setback, Italy quickly recovered. Alessandro Bastoni equalized for the Azzurri at the 10-minute mark with a header from a corner taken by Lorenzo Pellegrini. Not long after, Nicoló Barella scored the decisive goal for Italy, securing a 2-1 lead after a smooth assist from Dimarco.
Italy's control continued throughout the first half, with several near-misses that could have extended their lead. Albania's defense, particularly goalkeeper Alex Meret, performed admirably to keep the scoreline respectable. In the second half, Albania adopted a more defensive stance, and Italy struggled to convert further opportunities despite their dominance in possession.
The Italian team, under the new management of Luciano Spalletti, demonstrated resilience and tactical acumen despite many key players from their Euro 2020 triumph missing from the squad. Spalletti, who replaced Roberto Mancini, has revitalized the team and introduced strict discipline, focusing on possession and pressing tactics. The match also highlighted Italy's ongoing challenges in transitioning from the defensive era of legends like Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci to new talents such as Gianluca Mancini and Bastoni.
Fans from both nations created an electric atmosphere in Dortmund, with Albanian supporters particularly vocal following their team’s early goal. However, Italian fans had the last laugh, celebrating their team's comeback and eventual victory. Looking ahead, Italy will face Spain, who defeated Croatia 3-0, in their next match while Albania will square off against Croatia. Both teams have much to prove in this competitive group stage.
- Italy's victory against Albania in their Euro 2024 opener wasn't just a comeback but a statement of their resilience and tactical prowess. Under Luciano Spalletti's new management, the team adapted well even with significant changes from their Euro 2020 squad.
- The fast goal by Albania, scored by Nedim Bajrami, created a historic moment in Euro championships, but Italy quickly leveled the score, with key contributions from Alessandro Bastoni and Nicoló Barella securing the win.
- With Spalletti at the helm, Italy has introduced stricter discipline and a game strategy focused on possession and pressing, setting the stage for a potentially strong tournament run despite the team's early hiccups in defense and scoring efficiency.
