Italy’s early struggles in Euro 2024 campaign: A narrow 2-1 win over Albania

Italy, the reigning champions of Europe, got off to a shaky start in their Euro 2024 campaign with a narrow 2-1 win over Albania. Just 23 seconds into the game, Albania scored an early goal that put Italy on the back foot. However, Italy quickly regained its composure and equalized in the 11th minute with Alessandro Bastoni’s goal. The second half saw Italy take control of the match, with Barella scoring the winning goal in the 16th minute with a fierce strike from the edge of the area. This victory has placed Italy atop Group B alongside Spain, setting up a crucial clash between these two nations in Gelsenkirchen. The outcome of this match will likely determine who advances to the knockout stages and ultimately decides the fate of Group B.

Despite receiving little attention before the tournament, Martin Rogers is impressed by Italy’s performance thus far and believes they are well-positioned to defend their title. In his column for FOX Sports, he highlights Barella as a key player in Luciano Spalletti’s system and praises his role in Italy’s success so far.

In their next match against Croatia, Albania will look to bounce back from their loss to Italy and continue to fight for a place in the knockout stages. With passionate support from its fans in attendance, Albania is determined not to let its poor start define its entire Euro 2024 campaign.