Italy 2 Albania 1: Azzurri survive fastest goal in Euros history as they cling on for comeback win over minnows
IT is never a good idea to score so soon against Italy – just ask England.
The holders survived the scare of conceding the quickest goal in European Championship history after 23 seconds to start their defence with a win over Albania.
Italy, who beat England on penalties three years ago after conceding in the second minute, knew they needed a sharp start to the tournament.
They had spent the build up watching their rivals make huge statements as Germany slapped the Scots and Spain put three past Croatia.
So it was down to the reigning champions to show they could still mix it – with a new coach and new look squad.
And despite being rocked by Nedhim Bajrami’s record-breaking opener for Albania, they lived up to the billing.
Luciano Spalletti’s side have been described as a work in progress, but bounced back quickly through Alessandro Bastoni and Nicolo Barella and showed plenty of tournament nous to see the game out.
The Albanian fans, following their side led by former Arsenal and Manchester City man Sylvinho and his assistant Pablo Zabaleta, turned Dortmund’s Yellow Wall red and black.
And they were even more raucous than that famous stand’s usual residents after just seconds – when the underdogs gave Italy the shock of a lifetime.
It was sparked by an almighty mistake from Inter Milan’s Federico Dimarco, sending an innocuous throw in straight to the feet of Bajrami in the box.
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The No10, who plays in Italy with Sassuolo, took one touch before lashing the ball wonderfully into the roof of the net.
It could well have condemned the Italians and sent them into spin right at the start of their title defence.
Italy have had a turbulent time since downing England on penalties at Wembley three years ago.
The Azzurri failed to qualify for a second consecutive World Cup when they were beaten by North Macedonia in a play-off game ahead of Qatar.
Manager Roberto Mancini resigned last year to chase the cash with a new job as the Saudi Arabia boss.
Spalletti replaced him and is shaking things up – not only with his bans on PlayStation and players wearing headphones in camp.
The ex-Napoli boss wants a more attractive, attacking Italy but is also having to develop the squad without the foundation so many of his predecessors have been able to rely upon.
Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci, the foundation of so much Italian success, are both gone.
One of their replacements, Bastoni, was at fault for the opener, standing off Bajrami instead of moving towards the throw-in from Dimarco.
However, he showed there is still some grit in the new generation of Italian defenders and quickly made up for the early error – pulling his side level on 11 minutes.
Dimarco pulled a short corner back for Lorenzo Pellegrini who, given plenty of space, delivered a cracker of a cross to the back post for the unmarked Bastoni to nod in.
It turns out Albania’s early goal did not rock Italy at all – it only angered them and five minutes later they were ahead.
Barella, so crucial to Spalletti’s side and one of the five survivors from their Wembley triumph, was a doubt for the opener but was passed fit and made the most of it.
A weak clearance fell perfectly for the Inter midfielder and he caught it wonderfully, firing past Brentford’s Thomas Strakosha from outside the box.
The Bees stopper made a couple of fine saves before the break, keeping his side in it, though they could never find that sharpness up top.
Italy then ticked their way through the second half to full-time and a fine start looking every bit as comfortable as holders should.