Italy Defeats Albania in Opening Match of Euro 2024: How a Late Goal Secured the Victory

In the opening match of the European Championships, defending champions Italy won a crucial 2-1 victory over Albania. Despite conceding the quickest goal in history after just 23 seconds, Italy came back with a vengeance and scored an equalizer through Alessandro Bastoni in the 11th minute.

Nicolo Barella then struck a decisive blow for Italy in the second half, scoring a winning goal from the edge of the area with just 16 minutes remaining on the clock. This victory put Italy in first place alongside Spain in Group B.

The Italian team had a tumultuous start to the game but was able to regain its composure and hold onto its lead. Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma made a critical save in injury time to secure the win for Italy. The outcome of this match will likely determine Group B’s fate as it has been dubbed “the Group of Death” in Euro 2024.

Albania, with passionate support from its fans, will look to bounce back against Croatia in their next match. Meanwhile, Nicolo Barella’s role in Italy’s success has been crucial as he continues to be a key player in Luciano Spalletti’s system. Despite receiving little attention before the tournament, Italy has proven itself as a force to be reckoned with and is determined to defend its title. Martin Rogers is a columnist for FOX Sports and can be followed on Twitter @MRogersFOX for more updates on Euro 2024.