Albania writes European Championship history: Italy quickly recovers from disgrace after 23 seconds

Albania writes European Championship history
Italy recovers quickly from disgrace after 23 seconds

15.06.2024, 22:56

Italy’s start to the European Football Championship went terribly wrong: after just 23 seconds the team was behind against Albania – after a catastrophic misunderstanding. But the Italians quickly managed to turn things around against the underdog.

Gianluigi Donnarumma turned to the Tifosi and roared his relief, while tens of thousands of Albanian fans consoled their brave underdogs, including record man Nedim Bajrami. Defending champion Italy started the European Championship without much oomph, with a 2:1 (2:1) win in Dortmund. The Squadra Azzurra at least shook off an early shock: the Albanian Bajrami scored the fastest goal in European Championship history after 23 seconds – but the sensation was only in the air for a short time.

Alessandro Bastoni (11th) and Nicolo Barella (16th) turned the game around against the supposedly easiest opponent in the tough Group B with Spain and Croatia. Serie A professional Bajrami had previously replaced the Russian Dmitri Kiritschenko, who scored after 67 seconds in the preliminary round in 2004, as the fastest goalscorer at the European Championships. “We should have scored more goals. As long as it’s only a one-goal difference, it’s dangerous,” said Barella: “Albania were good, but we deserved to win.” A significant improvement will probably be needed against the Spanish, who impressed with a 3-0 win against World Cup third-placed Croatia.

On the second day of the tournament, referee Felix Zwayer celebrated his debut on the big stage. His nomination for the European Championship was not without controversy; the Berliner was only briefly in the spotlight when the 2-1 goal was reviewed, otherwise he remained inconspicuous and refereed the match with confidence.

Experience magical nights again

Italy’s national team wants to try to “relive the magical nights of 2021,” promised captain and goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. In Dortmund, where Italy had destroyed Germany’s World Cup dreams in the 2006 semi-finals, the Squadra Azzurra expected a real away game. Long before kick-off, the shrill “Shqiperia” (Albanian: Albania) echoed through the stadium. And when Bajrami took advantage of an embarrassing throw-in from Federico Dimarco to take an early lead, the Albanian party in the stands reached its brief climax.

The two-time title holder shook himself briefly – and hit back ice cold. Bastoni headed in at the far post after a short corner, and shortly afterwards pacesetter Barella, who had reported fit in time, scored with a dry shot from the edge of the penalty area. The Italians, who are by no means among the top favorites after missing out on the 2022 World Cup and the bumpy qualification, dominated at will and let the underdog run. Davide Frattesi’s attempt was deflected onto the post by Albania’s goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha with a reflex save (33′).

A special game for ten Albanians

It was a special match for ten Albanian professionals who play in Italy. The team of Brazilian Sylvinho, who was once successful as a player with FC Barcelona and FC Arsenal, rarely made any offensive moves in their second finals appearance after 2016, even after the break. Italy controlled the proceedings, but initially missed the decisive goal. Things got tight again in the 90th minute when Rey Manaj narrowly missed the Italian goal from a tight angle. “We saw a lot of good things – but only some of them,” said Spaletti. “It could have gone wrong a few times. Sometimes we were a bit too comfortable.”

Before the match, the Dortmund police prevented an attack by Italian hooligans on Albanian fans. 50 “high-risk fans”, some of whom were carrying “dangerous objects” according to the authorities, sought confrontation with an Albanian group in Potgasse, a police spokesman said.