Winning debut at Euro2024 for Luciano Spalletti’s Italy, who beat Albania 2-1 in Dortmund in the first match of Group B. Disastrous start for the Azzurri, who conceded a goal after just 23 seconds after an error from a throw-in by Dimarco which surprised Bastoni and gave Bajrami the opening goal (the fastest goal in the history of the European Championships). Shortly afterwards, however, Italy returned to the match with a goal from Bastoni following a corner (11′), and then overturned the result with Barella from outside the area (16′). First three points for Spalletti.
These are the words of Alessandro Bastoni to Sky Sports in the post match: “We will meet attackers who are faster than us, but the important thing is to know how to behave well. The first 10 minutes of the match? Nobody expected this start, we had a completely different game plan and going down immediately in front of their fans could have be fatal. Instead we reacted and I’m proud of my teammates as a teammate? A great player, he’s shown it throughout the year, but we’re on the right path.”
Here is the match scoreboard:
Italy (4-2-3-1): Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Bastoni, Calafiori, Dimarco (37′ st Darmian); Jorginho, Barella (47′ st Folorunsho); Frattesi, Pellegrini (32′ st Cristante), Chiesa (32′ st Cambiaso); Scamacca (37′ st Retegui). Available: Vicario, Meret, Buongiorno, Gatti, Raspadori, Bellanova, Mancini, Zaccagni, Fagioli, El Shaarawy. All.: Spalletti
Albania (4-3-3): Strakosha; Hysaj, Djimsiti, Ajeti, Mitaj; Asllani, Ramadani, Bajrami (42′ st Maçi); Asani (23′ st Hoxha), Broja (31′ st Manaj), Seferi (23′ st Laçi). Available: E. Berisha, Kastrati, Balliu, Gjasula, Mihaj, M. Berisha, Ismajli, Daku, Abrashi, Kumbulla, Aliji. All.: Sylvinho
Referee: Zwayer (Germany)
Scorers: 1′ Bajrami (A), 11′ Bastoni (I), 16′ Barella (I)
Booked: Pellegrini, Calafiori (I); Broja, Hoxha (A)