Italy need to start Euro 2024 like it’s 2021, but Albania out to cause upset
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Italy's national football team players participating in a training session in Iserlohn, Germany, on June 11.
PHOTO: EPA-EF
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DORTMUND – Defending champions Italy need to kick off their Euro 2024 campaign against Albania on June 15 in the same fashion as the last tournament, but their opponents will see this game as an opportunity to make headlines.
In 2021, the Azzurri started with a game against Turkey, a side who many had tipped as possible dark horses, but the Italians romped to an emphatic 3-0 victory and went on to top their group by winning all three games.
However, with Spain and Croatia still to come in a tough Group B this time, Italy would not expect to have it so easy, and this is the one game where they will be expected to take all three points.
Despite being the holders, Luciano Spalletti’s side are not the favourites to retain their title, but goalkeeping great Gianluigi Buffon – a World Cup 2006 winner and Euro 2012 runner-up – said Italy are being written off too soon.
“I believe this national team is underestimated, it’s a competitive squad, especially the strength in character of all the players,” the 46-year-old said on June 12.
“What made me the happiest, is seeing their sense of belonging to our nation and the Italy shirt. There are four, five or six players that I would say are world class. We have a great group that can help us play a good competition.”
Albania may be seen as the group’s whipping boys but, with nothing to lose, they will be out to cause an upset.
That said, the Italians are still heavy favourites for this clash and a victory would give them the confidence needed for the challenges ahead.
Spalletti’s men are coming up against a team filled with many familiar faces, as 10 of Albania’s squad play their club football in Italy, and they have a coach who also has a past in the country.
Sylvinho was one of former Italy coach Roberto Mancini’s assistants when he managed Inter Milan. The Brazilian, like many in the Albanian team, and the country in general, also speaks Italian.
Ahead of their opener, there was good news for the Azzurri, with Spalletti confirming on June 14 that key midfielder Nicolo Barella, who had missed their last two friendlies with a thigh injury, will be available against Albania.
Inter Milan's Nicolo Barella is expected to play a key role for Italy, but his fitness remains a question.
PHOTO: REUTERS
With Italy again struggling to find a goal scorer, Gianluca Scamacca looks set to be the player charged with finding the net, and against Albania he will come up against his Atalanta colleague Berat Djimsiti.
The pair helped the Serie A outfit win their first European trophy just a few weeks ago in the Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen, but this time they find themselves as rivals.
Scamacca has scored only once in an Italy shirt in 16 appearances and, if his team are to get off to a winning start, they will need to break down a stubborn Albania defence which conceded just four goals in qualifying.
Despite his poor scoring form for country, the striker has excelled since the start of March, netting 12 goals and setting up four more for Atalanta.
“I think we’re ready. I’m ready, I want to help the team to go as far as we can,” Scamacca, 25, said on June 13. “I would like to emulate the 2020 team who won the Euro and the 2006 team which won the World Cup.” REUTERS, AFP
