Italy avoids worst-case scenario thanks to narrow victory against Albania

On the lawn of Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund, Saturday June 15, the Italian players soberly celebrated their victory. There’s nothing to show off about, after all. Italy, reigning European champion, “only” beat Albania (2-1), 66^e nation in the FIFA rankings, which is only playing the second Euro in its history. However, for the Squadra Azzurra, this success for its entry into the competition appears like a great breath of fresh air. Yes, the hardest part is done.

Absent from the last two World Cups, Italy has alternated for several years between good and really bad. Also, this first match of the Euro against the weakest team in Group B – considered the “group of death” with Spain and Croatia – had taken on the appearance of a mountain to climb these last days. “It’s clearly the trickiest match”said Gianluigi Donnarumma, the goalkeeper and captain of this unsure Italy.

By dint of doubt, a self-fulfilling prophecy took hold after only twenty-two seconds of play and the first goal of the match, scored by Nedim Bajrami (1^D). Only this Italy could concede the quickest achievement in the history of the competition. Than this Nazionale to complicate the task in such a grotesque way, with the risky touch of Federico Dimarco which turned into a gift for Bajrami.

Italy was living the nightmare it feared above all else, worried about a worst-case scenario looming: defeated, it would have had to beat Spain and Croatia in the next two matches, to compete in the round of 16. final and assume, a little, her status as title holder. Avoiding it seemed like a challenge as the context was unfavorable for him. Luciano Spalletti’s players played away on Saturday in front of nearly 50,000 Albanians present at Signal Iduna Park.

“The players showed their character”

The latter were excited after a minute of play and were already so when this red tide invaded the streets of Dortmund during the day, the city which is generally adorned with yellow in the colors of Borussia, the local club. Eagles supporters came from everywhere: France, Switzerland, Germany and… Italy. The two countries are closely linked and the Albanian players, ten of whom currently play in the top two Italian divisions, were only too motivated to excel against the Nazionale.

As such, the Italian reaction in this very poorly started meeting was admirable in its conviction and speed. Donnarumma’s teammates had no time to doubt, thanks to the equalizer from Alessandro Bastoni’s header less than ten minutes after Bajrami’s goal (11^e). At the same time, like a sign, a clearing appeared in the cloudy sky of Dortmund. Five minutes later, Nicolo Barella, an uncertain time for this meeting, gave a short but definitive advantage to the Squadra Azzurra, with a sudden whipped strike at the entrance to the area (16^e).

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