Italy Overcomes Historic Setback to Launch Euro 2024 Title Defense

Italy’s quest to defend their European Championship crown began with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Albania in Dortmund, overcoming the shock of conceding the fastest goal in Euros history within the opening 23 seconds[1][2][4][5].

Albania’s Dream Start Turns to Nightmare

The match got off to a sensational start when Albania’s Nedim Bajrami capitalized on a defensive lapse by Federico Dimarco to fire a rising shot past Gianluigi Donnarumma, sending the raucous Albanian supporters into delirium[1][2][4][5]. However, Italy swiftly regained their composure, with Alessandro Bastoni equalizing in the 11th minute with a close-range header from a corner[1][2][4][5].

The Azzurri then completed the turnaround just five minutes later, as Nicolò Barella rifled a superb first-time strike from outside the box into the corner, leaving Albanian goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha helpless[1][2][4][5].

Italy Dominates but Fails to Extend Lead

Despite their early setback, Italy took control of the match, creating numerous chances to extend their lead. Davide Frattesi’s dink struck the post with Strakosha beaten[2], while the Brentford goalkeeper also produced a brilliant save to deny Gianluca Scamacca[2][4].

Albania showed resilience and nearly snatched a late equalizer, with substitute Rey Manaj’s clipped effort narrowly missing the target in stoppage time[2][4]. However, Italy held firm to secure all three points in their Group B opener.

Spalletti’s Men Overcome Adversity

Italy’s ability to swiftly recover from the historic early deficit and assert their dominance bodes well for their title defense[4]. While questions may have lingered about their ability to replicate their Euro 2020 triumph under new manager Luciano Spalletti, this hard-fought victory against a spirited Albanian side showcased their character and quality[4].

With Spain also securing an impressive 3-0 win over Croatia in the other Group B fixture[2], Italy’s path to the knockout stages appears challenging. However, their resilience in overcoming adversity on the opening night will instill confidence as they aim to navigate the “group of death” successfully[4].