Defending champion Italy started its European Championships campaign with a crucial 2-1 victory over underdog Albania, despite conceding the quickest goal in history. Nicolo Barella scored the winning goal after just 16 minutes with a fierce strike from the edge of the area, securing Italy’s place as leaders of Group B alongside Spain. Italy had a tempestuous start to the game, but Barella’s goal calmed Italian nerves and set the tone for the rest of the match.
Nedim Bajrami had scored an early goal for Albania just 23 seconds into the game, but Italy quickly responded with Alessandro Bastoni scoring an equalizer in the 11th minute. Italy regained its composure in the second half and managed to hold on to the lead, with goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma making a critical save in injury time to secure the victory. The win sets Italy up for a crucial match against Spain in Gelsenkirchen, with the outcome likely to decide the fate of Group B, dubbed the “Group of Death” in Euro 2024.
Albania, with passionate support from its fans in the stadium, will look to revive its campaign against Croatia in their next match. Meanwhile, Nicolo Barella’s role in Italy’s success has been crucial, as he continues to be a key player in Luciano Spalletti’s system. Despite receiving little attention before the tournament, Italy has proven itself as a force to be reckoned with and is determined to defend its title. Martin Rogers is a columnist for FOX Sports, and you can follow him on Twitter @MRogersFOX for more Euro 2024 updates.