Final result: Italy-Albania 2-1
Italy’s report cards (edited by Raimondo De Magistris)
Donnarumma 6.5 – After 23 seconds the ball is already behind him for a goal for which he is not to blame. It seems like the beginning of a nightmare night, it will prove to be a relatively calm evening at least until the 90th minute when he does well to deflect a poisonous diagonal from Manaj.
By Lorenzo 6.5 – Lucid, attentive performance: he always scales at the right times and doesn’t give space to Seferi.
Sticks 6.5 – Ready to go and Bajrami darts past him to score the goal that unlocks the match. He doesn’t give up and after eleven minutes he is in the right place at the right time: he scored the equalizer.
Calafiori 7.5 – But what kind of defender is he becoming? Debut in an official match with a great personality: he defends carefully and when in possession he is always free to receive the ball. Who then plays again by always doing the right thing.
Dimarco 5.5 – After 20 seconds he makes a blue pencil mistake, so banal that it seems like the beginning of a nightmare. And instead the reaction was vehement, helped by a team that was already ahead in the 16th minute: head down and great full-strength pedaling, but also decisive touches like the one at 2-1. From the 83rd Darmian sv
Jorginho 7 – He can benefit from the continuous movement of a team that does not give points of reference to its opponents. He manages his teammates’ changes of direction, even indicating them with his hands if necessary. Also thanks to his direction, after a while, Italy starts to go on autopilot.
Stretcher 7.5 – He didn’t even have to play, he didn’t train for a week but in the end – after just two group training sessions – he gritted his teeth and took to the field. With him or without him, the difference is clear. From the 92nd Folorunsho sv
Church 6 – Constantly looking for one on one, he isolates himself to make a difference: he creates a bit of havoc but never decisive action. From the 77th Cambiaso sv
Frattesi 6 – In reading spaces without the ball he confirms himself as the best of this team but tonight – just after the half hour mark – he only came close to scoring: post. A little superficial in the construction phase: Spalletti calls him back often and willingly from the bench.
Pilgrims 7 – The complicated start of the match is swept away by his brushstroke for Bastoni who only has to head it into the net. As a 10, he is free to roam the centre-left like a true attacking midfielder: he feels at ease. From the 77th Cristante sv
Scamacca 6.5 – He plays for the edge more than for the goal, he constantly looks for the shot and often succeeds. Decisive on the 2-1 goal, shortly after the half hour he read Frattesi’s movement and placed it in front of the goal: post. From the 8th Retegui sv
Luciano Spalletti 7 – The eleventh match in charge of Italy is probably the best because Italy wins according to his ideas. He is not afraid to play the ball, he does not give references to his opponents. He reacts and strikes.
Albania’s report cards (edited by Paolo Lora Lamia)
Strakosha 6.5 – The former Lazio player keeps his team afloat in the first half of the game, with two excellent interventions on Frattesi and Scamacca. Overall, he is certainly the best in the red jersey.
Hysaj 5 – A performance dedicated almost exclusively to the defensive phase, having to contain a Dimarco who reached the cross on more than one occasion.
Djimsiti 6 – The Atalanta player is among the few who survive in Sylvinho’s team. In fact, there are numerous interventions by him to anticipate the Azzurri who appear in the area.
Ajeti 6 – Together with Djimsiti they form a fairly tough couple, who try to withstand the Italian challenge with mixed success.
Mitaj 5 – Exactly like Hysaj, he is almost non-existent in the push phase and even more difficult in containment. In fact, it was a difficult evening for him against a wild Chiesa.
Asllani 5.5 – The Inter player struggled to ignite the Albanian actions, having difficulty in duels in the middle of the pitch with his Italian opponents.
Ramadan 5.5 – Encouraging start to the match, acting as a screen that helps contain Italy and also starts the counterattack. More suffering with the blue growth.
Bajrami 6 – Dream start, with the opening goal after less than 30 seconds taking advantage of a mistake by Dimarco. For the rest, you can see quite little. From 87′ Muci sv.
Asani 5 – A left-footed shot from outside ended on the back of the net and little else in the first half of the game. Doesn’t improve after the break. From 68′ Hoxha 5.5 – Something more than the teammate he replaces, but not enough to turn the race around.
Broja 5 – Served poorly by his teammates, he makes a lot of movement on the offensive front but is unable to have the impact he would like. He gets worse as the match progresses. From 76′ Manaj 6 – Excellent entry into the field. In the final, in fact, he came close to scoring the sensational 2-2.
Seferi 5 – Anonymous in the final metres, if possible it gets worse when he helps in the non-possession phase to contain Chiesa. From 68′ Laci 5.5 – Enters a complicated phase of the match, with Italy in absolute control. He doesn’t have many balls at his disposal.
Sylvinho 5.5 – Imagine a game of defense and counterattack, which goes as well as it could with the lightning advantage. As the minutes passed, however, his team suffered from the Azzurri’s forcing. In the second half, they didn’t push too hard to find the equalizer.