EURO2020 champions Italy will get their title defence underway this weekend as they take on underdogs Albania on the opening weekend of EURO2024.
Two picturesque Southern European countries with gorgeous beaches hugging opposite coasts of the Adriatic sea, locking horns at one of the world’s greatest football stadiums in the hustle and bustle of western Germany.
Borussia Dortmund’s iconic Westfalenstadion will be the host of this highly-anticipated clash, with the stadium ready and decked out in all its EURO2024 gear ahead of this summer’s tournament.
Embed from Getty ImagesLuciano Spalletti’s side are heavy favourites going into the match, with the inexperienced Red and Blacks preparing to make just their second EURO finals appearance.
What is the latest team news?
Italian midfielders Nicolò Barella and Davide Frattesi returned to training at the squad’s base in Iserlohn yesterday, though it remains to be seen whether they will feature against Albania.
Juventus’ Nicolò Fagioli, however, has been ruled out of the two-time European Champion’s opener this weekend according to Sky Sport Italia, with the 23-year-old recovering from a bruised fibula.
Who are the key players?
This Azzurri collective is perhaps not as strong and cohesive on paper as those who have come before them – after all, Italy is one of the greatest and most iconic footballing nations on the planet.
Spalletti does, however, have some excellent options at his disposal, including Inter Milan defenders Federico DiMarco and Alessandro Bastoni, with the latter having recently been crowned ‘Best Defender’ at the 2023/24 Serie A awards.
Embed from Getty ImagesFurther up the pitch, Federico Chiesa will be hoping to continue his form from EURO2020. The Juventus winger scored two crucial goals for his nation on their way to glory, but an ACL injury suffered at the beginning of 2022 has since seen his performance levels take a hit.
As for Albania, Chelsea striker Armando Broja is the main threat. The 22-year-old has scored five goals at senior level for the Red and Blacks and will be looking to make a mark on the competition, despite his grave lack of game time on loan at Fulham this Premier League season.
If Sassuolo midfielder Nedim Bajrami’s qualification statistics are anything to go by, he’ll be a major threat for Sylvinho; four goal contributions in eight starts are excellent numbers from the middle of the park.
What have the managers said?
Taking charge of his first major tournament fixture as Azzurri boss, Luciano Spalletti was clear that though his side are the favourites, they must not underestimate their opponents.
“It is a dangerous match and a potential banana skin. Sylvinho has done a very good job of building this team, he has come up with a very clear and balanced style of play. We are up against footballers who are very familiar with Serie A, who have quality… it will be a tough match.”
Embed from Getty ImagesSpalletti added that he is ‘convinced‘ that his side will show the world what they are capable of on Saturday night.
As for Sylvinho, the Brazilian was respectful of their Italian opposition but optimistic about his squad.
“Italy are a top side, they’re a tough nut to crack. They have some excellent footballers, some powerful players, speed, pace, power, skill.
“The dressing room is very motivated, the guys are really up for it to go out there, and it’s a wonderful day to represent our country.
“We’ll go out there to try and give our utmost and scrap for points.“
Embed from Getty ImagesFor more words from both managers, click on their names to be taken to our full press conference reports.
What time is kick-off?
Kick-off for Italy v Albania is scheduled for 20:00 BST [21:00 CEST] on Saturday 15th June.
How can I watch Italy v Albania in Group B of EURO2024?
For those watching from the United Kingdom, Italy v Albania will be broadcast live by the BBC.
FromTheSpot will continue to cover the match and the entire EURO2024 tournament on both our website and our X account.