Historic Start for Albania
In an electrifying start to the Euro 2024 campaign, Albania made history by scoring the fastest goal in European Championship history, courtesy of Nedim Bajrami. His stunning strike just 23 seconds into the match capitalized on a miscalculated throw-in by Italy’s Federico Dimarco. However, the early jubilation for the underdogs in Dortmund was short-lived.
Italy’s Swift Response
Italy wasted no time responding to Albania’s early lead. Alessandro Bastoni leveled the score in the 11th minute with a well-placed header from Lorenzo Pellegrini’s inswinging corner. Merely five minutes later, Nicolo Barella put Italy ahead with a spectacular 20-yard strike. By halftime, Italy had asserted their dominance, enjoying 72.2% possession and outshooting Albania 13 to 4.
Second Half Control
Despite maintaining control in the second half, Italy struggled to create clear-cut chances. Albania’s defense tightened, but they failed to pose a significant threat on the counter. Key contributions from Jorginho and Federico Chiesa kept Italy’s offense fluid, but Albania’s goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha was in fine form, making crucial saves to keep the scoreline at 2-1.
Conclusion
Italy’s opening victory in Euro 2024 showcased their resilience and tactical prowess. While Albania’s early goal was a record-breaking moment, it ultimately did little to change the outcome. Italy’s ability to adapt and exploit spaces left by Albania’s defensive setup was key to their victory. The Azzurri now look forward to building on this hard-earned win as the tournament progresses.
