Italy vs Albania, 2024 European Championship, Group Stage
· UEFA European ChampionshipHolders Italy overcome fastest-ever goal to edge Albania
Italy recovered from the shock of conceding the fastest goal ever scored at a European Championship to beat Albania 2-1 on Saturday as Alessandro Bastoni and Nicolò Barella ensured the defending champions made a winning start.
Match Commentary
- 0': Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
- 0': First Half begins.
- 1': Goal! Italy 0, Albania 1. Nedim Bajrami (Albania) right footed shot from the right side of the box to the top right corner.
- 2': Attempt missed. Lorenzo Pellegrini (Italy) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Gianluca Scamacca.
- 3': Alessandro Bastoni (Italy) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 3': Foul by Armando Broja (Albania).
- 5': Foul by Taulant Seferi (Albania).
- 5': Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Italy) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 6': Attempt blocked. Federico Chiesa (Italy) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Nicolò Barella.
- 8': Attempt blocked. Jasir Asani (Albania) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Armando Broja.
- 8': Corner, Albania. Conceded by Giovanni Di Lorenzo.
- 9': Corner, Albania. Conceded by Jorginho.
- 9': Attempt missed. Berat Djimsiti (Albania) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Kristjan Asllani with a cross.
- 9': Offside, Albania. Kristjan Asllani is caught offside.
- 10': Attempt blocked. Federico Dimarco (Italy) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jorginho.
- 10': Corner, Italy. Conceded by Elseid Hysaj.
- 11': Goal! Italy 1, Albania 1. Alessandro Bastoni (Italy) header from the right side of the six yard box to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by Lorenzo Pellegrini with a cross following a corner.
- 16': Attempt blocked. Gianluca Scamacca (Italy) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
- 16': Goal! Italy 2, Albania 1. Nicolò Barella (Italy) right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom left corner.
- 19': Alessandro Bastoni (Italy) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 19': Foul by Armando Broja (Albania).
- 20': Corner, Italy. Conceded by Taulant Seferi.
- 21': Attempt blocked. Riccardo Calafiori (Italy) header from very close range is blocked. Assisted by Federico Dimarco with a cross.
- 21': Attempt blocked. Federico Chiesa (Italy) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
- 21': Armando Broja (Albania) wins a free kick on the left wing.
- 21': Foul by Lorenzo Pellegrini (Italy).
- 21': Lorenzo Pellegrini (Italy) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
- 31': Attempt missed. Lorenzo Pellegrini (Italy) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Federico Chiesa with a cross.
- 31': Offside, Italy. Nicolò Barella is caught offside.
- 33': Attempt saved. Davide Frattesi (Italy) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
- 34': Delay in match because of an injury Federico Chiesa (Italy).
- 35': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
- 40': Attempt saved. Gianluca Scamacca (Italy) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Lorenzo Pellegrini with a headed pass.
- 40': Corner, Italy. Conceded by Thomas Strakosha.
- 40': Attempt blocked. Riccardo Calafiori (Italy) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Lorenzo Pellegrini with a cross.
- 44': Foul by Alessandro Bastoni (Italy).
- 44': Taulant Seferi (Albania) wins a free kick on the left wing.
- 44': Attempt missed. Jasir Asani (Albania) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses the top left corner. Assisted by Berat Djimsiti with a headed pass following a set piece situation.
- 45'+2': Attempt missed. Lorenzo Pellegrini (Italy) with an attempt from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Federico Chiesa with a cross.
- 45'+3': First Half ends, Italy 2, Albania 1.
- 45': Second Half begins Italy 2, Albania 1.
- 48': Attempt missed. Gianluca Scamacca (Italy) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
- 50': Armando Broja (Albania) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- 50': Foul by Riccardo Calafiori (Italy).
- 51': Riccardo Calafiori (Italy) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
- 51': Armando Broja (Albania) is shown the yellow card.
- 52': Attempt blocked. Kristjan Asllani (Albania) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
- 52': Delay in match because of an injury Alessandro Bastoni (Italy).
- 53': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
- 56': Offside, Italy. Davide Frattesi is caught offside.
- 60': Attempt missed. Federico Chiesa (Italy) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Gianluca Scamacca.
- 66': Corner, Italy. Conceded by Mario Mitaj.
- 67': Attempt blocked. Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Italy) header from the left side of the six yard box is blocked. Assisted by Federico Dimarco with a cross.
- 67': Corner, Italy. Conceded by Elseid Hysaj.
- 68': Foul by Nicolò Barella (Italy).
- 68': Jasir Asani (Albania) wins a free kick on the right wing.
- 68': Substitution, Albania. Arbër Hoxha replaces Jasir Asani.
- 68': Substitution, Albania. Qazim Laçi replaces Taulant Seferi.
- 69': Corner, Albania. Conceded by Davide Frattesi.
- 69': Attempt missed. Kristjan Asllani (Albania) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right following a corner.
- 73': Arbër Hoxha (Albania) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 73': Foul by Davide Frattesi (Italy).
- 74': Davide Frattesi (Italy) wins a free kick on the right wing.
- 74': Foul by Arbër Hoxha (Albania).
- 74': Arbër Hoxha (Albania) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
- 76': Armando Broja (Albania) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 76': Foul by Alessandro Bastoni (Italy).
- 77': Substitution, Albania. Rey Manaj replaces Armando Broja.
- 77': Substitution, Italy. Andrea Cambiaso replaces Federico Chiesa.
- 77': Substitution, Italy. Bryan Cristante replaces Lorenzo Pellegrini.
- 77': Foul by Andrea Cambiaso (Italy).
- 77': Mario Mitaj (Albania) wins a free kick on the left wing.
- 80': Attempt saved. Federico Dimarco (Italy) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Riccardo Calafiori.
- 83': Substitution, Italy. Mateo Retegui replaces Gianluca Scamacca.
- 83': Substitution, Italy. Matteo Darmian replaces Federico Dimarco.
- 85': Bryan Cristante (Italy) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- 85': Foul by Rey Manaj (Albania).
- 87': Substitution, Albania. Ernest Muçi replaces Nedim Bajrami.
- 90': Attempt missed. Rey Manaj (Albania) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right misses to the left. Assisted by Kristjan Asllani.
- 90'+1': Delay in match (Italy).
- 90'+2': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
- 90'+2': Substitution, Italy. Michael Folorunsho replaces Nicolò Barella.
- 90'+3': Foul by Ylber Ramadani (Albania).
- 90'+3': Michael Folorunsho (Italy) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- 90'+4': Andrea Cambiaso (Italy) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- 90'+4': Foul by Kristjan Asllani (Albania).
- 90'+5': Attempt missed. Mario Mitaj (Albania) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses the top right corner. Assisted by Arbër Hoxha.
- 90'+6': Second Half ends, Italy 2, Albania 1.
- 0': Match ends, Italy 2, Albania 1.
Statistics
 ALB |
ITA |
|
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Fouls | 7 |
| 2 | Yellow Cards | 2 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 |
| 1 | Offsides | 2 |
| 3 | Corner Kicks | 5 |
| 3 | Saves | 0 |
| 31.7 | Possession | 68.3 |
| 8 | SHOTS | 17 |
| 1 | ON GOAL | 5 |
| 0.1 | On Target % | 0.3 |
| 0 | Penalty Goals | 0 |
| 0 | Penalty Kicks Taken | 0 |
| 313 | Accurate Passes | 747 |
| 372 | Passes | 809 |
| 0.8 | Pass Completion % | 0.9 |
| 2 | Accurate Crosses | 7 |
| 9 | Crosses | 15 |
| 0.2 | Cross % | 0.5 |
| 41 | Long Balls | 36 |
| 17 | Accurate Long Balls | 21 |
| 0.4 | Long Balls % | 0.6 |
| 2 | Blocked Shots | 7 |
| 5 | Effective Tackles | 5 |
| 8 | Tackles | 9 |
| 0.6 | Tackle % | 0.6 |
| 13 | Interceptions | 15 |
| 15 | Effective Clearances | 6 |
| 15 | Clearances | 6 |
Game Information
Competition: UEFA European Championship
Venue: SIGNAL IDUNA PARK
Location: Dortmund, Germany
Attendance: 60,512
Venue: SIGNAL IDUNA PARK
Location: Dortmund, Germany
Attendance: 60,512
EURO Standings
| # | TEAM | GP | GD | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spain | 3 | +5 | 9 |
| 2 | Italy | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| 3 | Croatia | 3 | -3 | 2 |
| 4 | Albania | 3 | -2 | 1 |
Line-Ups
Italy (4-3-3)
| No. | Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | Gianluigi Donnarumma (GK) |
| 5 | Riccardo Calafiori  |
| 23 | Alessandro Bastoni |
| 3 | Federico Dimarco |
| 2 | Giovanni Di Lorenzo |
| 8 | Jorginho |
| 18 | Nicolò Barella |
| 7 | Davide Frattesi |
| 9 | Gianluca Scamacca |
| 10 | Lorenzo Pellegrini |
| 14 | Federico Chiesa |
Albania (4-2-3-1)
| No. | Name |
|---|---|
| 23 | Thomas Strakosha (GK) |
| 6 | Berat Djimsiti |
| 5 | Arlind Ajeti |
| 3 | Mario Mitaj |
| 4 | Elseid Hysaj |
| 10 | Nedim Bajrami |
| 21 | Kristjan Asllani |
| 20 | Ylber Ramadani |
| 11 | Armando Broja |
| 15 | Taulant Seferi |
| 9 | Jasir Asani |
EURO News
England manager Thomas Tuchel to begin role early - sources
Thomas Tuchel will begin as England manager three weeks early when he attends next week's 2026 World Cup qualifying draw, sources have told ESPN.
England's Jude Bellingham felt like 'scapegoat' after Euros
Jude Bellingham has admitted he felt like "a scapegoat" after England's Euro 2024 final defeat last summer, but said "the smile is back" with the national team.
Gareth Southgate considering career outside of football
Five months after leaving his job as England manager, Gareth Southgate has said his next career move could be outside the football industry.
UEFA opens investigation into ref David Coote over new video
UEFA has opened an investigation into suspended referee David Coote after a video published by The Sun allegedly showed him snorting a white powder while on duty at Euro 2024.
David Coote: New video puts suspended referee under fresh scrutiny
PGMOL, the refereeing body for English football, has confirmed that it is aware of a new video published by The Sun in which suspended Premier League referee David Coote is allegedly seen snorting a white powder.