Italy achieves the three points in a game that was uphill from the first minute. Spalletti’s selection puts pressure on Luis de la Fuente’s, who cannot fail in the direct duel between both teams next Thursday, June 20. Albania came out very energized in the first minutes of the game, but Italy quickly showed why they are the European champions and who has traveled to Germany with the idea of revalidating the title achieved in the 2021 edition.
The fastest goal in the history of the Euro Cup
The first half began with the fastest goal in the history of the Euro Cup. Di Marco took a throw-in to give the ball to Bastoni, but Bajrami was the smartest in the class and snatched the ball from him. Di Marco’s rude error on the throw-in left the Albanian attacker in the Donnaruma area. The forward beat the Italian goalkeeper wonderfully with a powerful shot to the right side of the goal to score the first of the game and the fastest goal recorded in the history of this European competition. The Balkan team went crazy with the goal of their number 10 and came out on top. The visitors did not stop putting pressure on Italy, which could not find the key to how to hurt Albania.
Italian Comeback with Milanese flavor
After ten minutes the jackpot arrived for Italy, which recovered from Di Marco’s mistake. Barella looked for Basconi with a set piece and the Italian central defender responded with an unappealable header for Strakosha., the Albanian goalkeeper. Italy began to dominate the game and, six minutes later, Italy’s second and final goal arrived. Barella, midfielder and star of the Italian team, collected a rebound on the edge of the area and did not think twice. Unappealable right shot for Strakosha who can only watch as that ball comes in just past the post.. Italy turned the result around, coming back in the game and put the final 2-1 on the scoreboard. Italy took advantage of the good play of its eleven warriors and the physical decline of Albania to overwhelm the rival goal. Scamacca filtered the ball to Frattesi who was left alone in front of the Albanian goalkeeper and chipped the ball over the goalkeeper. Strakosha touched just enough to send the ball to the post. Chiesa collected the rebound, but his shot was marked wide.
Second part of filler
The second half was a monologue from Italy who decided to dominate the ball so that Albania did not create opportunities on the counterattack. Few opportunities were seen at the Signal Induna Park in the second 45 minutes, which served well to load the Italians’ legs for the next match against Spain. The most outstanding player was Federico Chiesa. The Italian winger took his entire arsenal out for a walk and made a space in the corner of the area to take a hard shot to the right corner of Strakosha’s goal. The goalkeeper stretched, but without success. Luckily for him, the shot went just off the post. Albania was spared from receiving the third, which was blocked by the Azzurra team. In the end, Donnaruma saved Italy from a draw with a save against Manaj. The PSG goalkeeper saved the Albanian player’s ‘sting’ with his side.
Data sheet:2 – Italy: Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Bastoni, Calafiori, Dimarco (Darmian, d. 83); Jorginho, Barella (Folorunsho, d. 93); Frattesi, Pellegrini (Cristante, d. 77), Chiesa (Cambiaso, d. 77); Scamacca (Mateo Retegui, d. 83).
1 – Albania: Strakosha; Hysaj, Djimsiti, Ajeti, Mitaj; Asllani, Ramadani, Bajrami (Muçi, d. 87); Asani (Hoxha, d. 67), Broja (Manaj, d. 77), Seferi (Laçi, d. 67).
Goals: 0-1, m.1: Bajrami. 1-1, m.11: Bastoni. 2-1, m.16: Barella.
Referee: Felix Zwayer (Germany). He admonished the Italians Pellegrini (m. 21) and Calafiori (m. 51), and the Albanians Broja (m. 52) and Hoxha (m. 75).
Incidents: match corresponding to the first day of group B of Euro 2024 played at the Signal Iduna Park stadium in Dortmund in front of around 61,000 spectators.
