The reigning European champions, Italy, made a strong start to their Euro 2024 campaign by overcoming Albania 2-1 in a thrilling encounter. This match took place at the Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund. Despite beginning on the back foot with Albania scoring the fastest goal in Euro history just 23 seconds into the game, Italy displayed resilience and expertise to secure a win.
Albanian midfielder Nedim Bajrami stunned the Italian side by taking advantage of a defensive error by Federico Dimarco, scoring with a powerful right-footed shot from the right, leaving Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma helpless. The joyous Albanian supporters in Dortmund celebrated this historic moment enthusiastically.
However, Italy quickly regained control. Alessandro Bastoni scored the equalizer with a header from a Lorenzo Pellegrini cross at the 11th minute. Soon after, Nicolo Barella gave Italy the lead with a magnificent right volley from outside the area at the 16th minute. Despite efforts from Gianluca Scamacca and Pellegrini, they missed their chances to further extend the lead before halftime.
In the second half, the match tempo dropped significantly as Italy managed its advantage effectively, preventing Albania from creating significant danger. Goalkeeper Donnarumma was called into action again only towards the end to repel a late attempt by Manaj.
This victory set a promising tone for Italy, who will face another tough challenge against Spain in their next match on Thursday. Meanwhile, Albania faces a critical match against Croatia, with the loser likely facing elimination.
- Euro 2024 began with Germany emphatically defeating Scotland 5-1 on the opening day. The following day saw continuous football action with significant matches involving Spain and Italy.
- Switzerland also showcased their skills in Cologne against Hungary as part of Group A, which also includes the hosts Germany and Scotland. Meanwhile, Spain and Croatia clashed at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin, renewing their rivalry from previous tournaments.
- Italy, under new coach Luciano Spalletti, has a lot to prove after missing the last two World Cups. Spalletti emphasized the importance of playing not just for themselves but for the 60 million Italians back home. Key players including Gianluigi Donnarumma, Jorginho, Nicoló Barella, Davide Frattesi, Lorenzo Pellegrini, Federico Chiesa, and Gianluca Scamacca were highlighted as crucial to Italy's campaign.
- All UEFA Euro 2024 matches are available for live viewing on various platforms, with comprehensive coverage ensuring fans do not miss any action.
