A completely unexpected shock start and a final thrill, but it's a good first at Euro 2024 for Spalletti's Italy, who comeback to win against Albania and convince at least for an hour. The Italian national team always keeps control of the game, shows good plots and creates several scoring opportunities, but is unable to close out the match, slows down the pace in the second half and risks a mockery at the end.
At the Westfalenstadion in Dortmund it ended 2-1 , and Nicolò Barella was decisive, scoring the winning goal following Bajrami's Albanian opener , which came after just 24 seconds, and Bastoni's equaliser .
THE FORMATIONS
Spalletti dispels the doubts about the Sardinian midfielder from the day before, puts him on the field and lines up the team with a 4-2-3-1: Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Bastoni, Calafiori, Dimarco; Stretcher, Jorginho; Chiesa, Frattesi, Pellegrini; Scamacca.
Sylvinho's national team responds with an identical formation, full of players who play in Serie A: Strakosha; Hysaj, Ajeti, Djimsiti, Mitaj; Asllani, Ramadani; Bajrami, Asani, Seferi; Broja.
THE NEWS
Shocking start for the Azzurri, who are already down after 23 seconds . The fastest goal conceded in the history of the national team starts from a wicked back pass following a lateral foul by Dimarco which becomes an assist for Bajrami , who doesn't think twice and finishes on goal, beating Donnarumma.
Italy's reaction was immediate with a great play by Chiesa, Pellegrini wasted the spot by kicking high over the crossbar. In the 11th minute the deserved equalizer came with a header from Bastoni , placed at the far post following a cross from Pellegrini from a corner. In the 17th minute Nicolò Barella's billiard shot , in doubt until yesterday: the Sardinian midfielder, who had already scored against Belgium at the previous European Championships ( ), . It's the play that will decide the game.
