Italy vs Albania LIVE: Euro 2024 result and final score from Group B fixture tonight
Italy 2-1 Albania: The defending champions conceded the quickest goal in European Champion history but came from behind to claim an opening win in Dortmund
Italy began the defence of their European Championship crown with a narrow 2-1 win against Albania in Dortmund. Albania scored the fastest goal in Euros history after Nedim Bajrami collected Dimarco’s throw-in and rifled past Donnarumma within 23 seconds of kick-off.
But a determined Azzurri side quickly got one back after Alessandro Bastoni rose highest to thump home a header at the far post, and the comeback was completed within 16 minutes when Nicolo Barella sliced a beautiful half-volley past Strakosha from the edge of the box.
Italy named a much-changed side from the one that was victorious at Wembley three years ago, with injuries and retirements meaning that just five players who started in the 2021 final lining up tonight.
But the Azzurri were accomplished in possession after gaining the lead, with Barella, Bastoni, Calafiori and Jorginho guiding them to a win that was a lot more comfortable than the scoreline might suggest.
The holders will face a jubilant Spain side on 20 June in their next game, while Albania will be looking for a crucial three points as they face Croatia.
Relive all the action from Italy vs Albania below, plus more reaction from Spain’s 3-0 win over Croatia
Euro 2024: Italy 1-1 Albania
14 mins
Italy have done well to recover so quickly, but they’ll be aware of the threat that Albania possess. The Azzurri are keeping the ball well at the moment.
GOAL! Italy 1-1 Albania
10 mins
GOAL! Italy are level.
Italy win their first corner of the game as Hysaj puts it behind. Pellegrini plays it short before delivering an inviting ball to the back post, and Bastoni rises high to power the header past Strakosha.
Euro 2024: Italy 0-1 Albania
5 mins
The goal was recorded after 23 seconds, which makes it the fastest goal in European Championship history.
Italy look a little shellshocked but they attack again, with Djimsiti making an important block from Chiesa’s shot.
GOAL! Italy 0-1 Albania
1 min
GOAL! An unbelievable start!
Dimarco’s throw-in is put into the Italy box but it runs straight to Nedim Bajrami, who takes a touch and rifles it past Donnarumma at the near post!
KICK-OFF: Italy 0-0 Albania
KICK-OFF! We’re underway at the Westfalenstadion after rousing renditions of the respective anthems. There are an awful lot of Albania fans present.
Albania get us started.
Report: Lamine Yamal dazzles as face of new Spain to validate clever swap
A new Spain, in more ways than one. As Lamine Yamal, who was not even a year old when they won Euro 2008, became first the youngest footballer to play in a European Championships and then, before half-time, the youngest to set up a goal in one, Luis de la Fuente’s side made a break with the past.
With less possession and more potency, Spain looked a team trying to cast off the influence of their champion sides. They had 47 percent of the ball but scored three goals. After going out of successive World Cups in knockout games where they attempted over 1,000 passes each, but seemed to show precious little interest in scoring, this was Spain, but not as we knew them.
Nor, really, was it Croatia as we have come to know them: the great survivors, the tournament team whose powers of endurance have carried them deep into World Cups, were strangely supine. It was the Croatia of old, in that Luka Modric became the oldest player ever in a European Championships, in that they started with a midfield trio with 376 caps between them and the first substitute deployed was Ivan Perisic. The faces were familiar, but there was not the usual resilience.
Lamine Yamal dazzles as face of new Spain to validate clever swap
Spain 3-0 Croatia: La Roja shone in Berlin behind an unusual mix of players, signalling evolution under Luis de la Fuente
FT: Spain 3-0 Croatia
Holders Italy are up next for Spain, with that game kicking off at 8pm BST on Thursday, 20 June.
For Croatia, next up is a crucial game against Albania. They desperately need three points on Wednesday, 19 June – that game kicks off at 2pm in Hamburg.
Spain vs Croatia player ratings
Spain got up and running at Euro 2024 with a straightforward win over Croatia, beating their Group B opponents 3-0 on Saturday.
Captain Alvaro Morata opened the scoring for Luis de la Fuente’s side in Berlin, following a fine Fabian Ruiz assist, and it was Ruiz who doubled the lead with an impressive solo goal.
The standout moment, however, might have come from Lamine Yamal, when the 16-year-old assisted Dani Carvajal with a brilliant cross for 3-0.
Croatia thought they had pulled one back in the second half, when substitute Bruno Petkovic won a penalty, hit the spot, and scored in the aftermath, but the goal was ruled out for encroachment.
Spain vs Croatia ratings: Teenager Lamine Yamal shows glimpses of bright future
Spain 3-0 Croatia: The Barcelona winger, 16, provided an assist and some eye-catching runs as his side made light work of their opposition
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