The match began at a excessive tempo and after solely 23 seconds of the sport, Bajrami caught a dangerous throw-in by the Italians, gained the ball within the field and caught goalkeeper Donnarumma on the entrance publish. Together with his fast strike, he broke the European Championship document held by Russia’s Dmitry Kirichenko since 2004 when he scored after one minute and 7 seconds in opposition to Greece.
Nonetheless, Italy have been undeterred, quickly taking management of the match and the equalizer got here within the eleventh minute. After a brief nook, the Albanian protection didn’t cowl the again publish, the place Bastoni was left free and took benefit of Pellegrini’s cross along with his head.
Solely 5 minutes had handed and the defenders from Italy have been already within the lead. After a jam within the field, Asani deflected the ball simply to the sting of the field, the place the free Barella leaned into the ball from the primary and hit the publish precisely. He grew to become solely the fourth Italian after Leonardo Bonucci, Antonio Cassano and Andrea Pirlo to attain in two completely different European championships.
“That is what he’s greatest at. When he stays in the course of the pitch in entrance of the protection and waits for these moments. Typically he wastes his vitality operating to the corners, however right this moment he did precisely what we needed him to do. He was wonderful,” coach Luciano Spaletti praised Barella.
Italy continued to press on a passive Albania, whose gamers have been usually dragged all inside thirty meters of their very own purpose. Within the thirty second minute, the favourite was near the third purpose, when Frattesi ran behind the protection for a penetrating cross, however solely hit the publish due to the run of the goalkeeper Strakoš. A second later, even Scamacca, who obtained behind the protection, did not make it, however from an angle he simply beat the goalkeeper.
Whereas the primary half was offensive, within the second half Italy managed the sport and there was not a lot offensive motion to be seen. Chiesa fired huge and Dimarco’s long-range shot additionally missed. Albania actually threatened solely on the finish, when the substitute Manaj obtained behind the protection, however Donnarumma narrowed his angle and the Albanian striker didn’t hit the purpose due to his small run.
After the win, Italy is in second place within the Group B desk behind Spain, who beat Croatia 3-0. Sparta Prague participant Qazim Laci, who got here into the sport within the 68th minute, didn’t assist Albania to equalize.
“Because the starting of my teaching profession, everybody has informed me that the necessary factor is to win and to not play good soccer. However to be able to attempt to defend the title, we should play higher soccer. We had the chance to harm them a number of instances and we did not benefit from it. We’re doing properly they performed, however then we stopped and did not observe via. We pulled again too rapidly and performed it protected,” Italy coach Spalleti regretted. “On the finish, Albania tried to do one thing with the consequence and house was opening up for us, however we have been dragged behind,” he added.
Albania coach Sylvinho regretted that his workforce didn’t make higher use of an incredible begin to the match. “The workforce was excited after the fast purpose, however we must always have performed higher and extra actively. Particularly within the first half. It was higher within the second half and we even had an opportunity,” he evaluated the match.
