Italy recover to beat Albania after conceding fastest goal in Euros historyBy PA sport staffNicolo Barella ensured defending champions Italy launched their Euro 2024 campaign with victory over Albania despite conceding the fastest goal in European Championship history. Nedim Bajrami fired the Albanians ahead after just 23 seconds at the BVB Stadion in Dortmund, in the process eclipsing Dmitri Kirichenko’s strike 67 seconds into Russia’s 2-1 win over Greece in 2004. However, the Italians quickly levelled through defender Alessandro Bastoni before Barella secured a 2-1 Group B win which was more comfortable than the scoreline suggests, with most of the drama coming inside the opening 16 minutes. Indeed, had it not been for the heroics of Brentford goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha, who produced a string of fine saves, Italy might have prevailed significantly more comfortably. Italy held on to beat Albania (Andreea Alexandru/AP) Photo by Andreea AlexandruWith Barella, Pellegrini and Jorginho dominating the midfield battle, Sylvinho’s men were starved of possession and Strakosha had to come to their rescue twice as the half-time whistle approached.

Source: Irish Independent June 16, 2024 13:41 UTC