In a tough Group B, Italy faces Albania for its first match at Euro 2024, with the ban on making a misstep with a view to qualifying.
After Germany, Spain and Croatia, it is Italy’s turn to play its first match in Euro 2024, on the second day of the competition. The Italians, who will then have to face the Spaniards and then the Croatians, start against the seemingly weakest opponent in Group B: Albania. In this “group of death”, the Nazionale must successfully enter the competition in order not to jeopardize its chances of qualifying for the rest of the tournament. But be careful not to look down on the Albanians, coached by a man who worked in Ligue 1, the Brazilian Sylvinho, short-lived coach of Olympique Lyonnais during the 2019-2020 season.
Second participation for Albania
Not really named among the favorite teams for final victory in this Euro 2024, Italy is nevertheless the title holder in this competition. The Italians won Euro 2020 (played in 2021 due to Covid-19) at Wembley against the host country, England, at the end of the penalty shootout (1-1, 3 tab to 2). But since then, the Nazionale have failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, for the second time in a row after previously missing out on the 2018 World Cup in Russia. The Italian team even struggled to qualify for this Euro, finishing far behind England and tied with Ukraine in their qualifying group. For its part, this is only the second time in its history that Albania has participated in a Euro, after having been eliminated at the start of Euro 2016. But the Albanian selection made its mark during the qualifiers by taking first place in its group ahead of the Czech Republic and Poland.
Donnarumma holder
Appointed at the head of Italy last summer after winning the Italian championship with Naples, Luciano Spalletti has undergone numerous tests in recent months and it is quite difficult to predict the team (and even the system) that he will line up this evening against Albania, even for the transalpine press. One thing is certain, PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma will start in goal. Italy’s likely starting XI: Donnarumma – Cambiaso, Darmian, Buongiorno, Bastoni, Dimarco – Barella, Jorginho – Frattesi, Scamacca, Chiesa. On the Albanian side, Sylvinho should be able to count on his defender Ismajli, back from injury. Albania’s probable starting XI: Berisha – Hysaj, Ismajli, Djimsiti, Mitaj – Ramadani, Asllani – Asani, Bajrami, Seferi – Broja.
Italy big favorite
This meeting, which will kick off at 9 p.m. this Saturday June 15, will be broadcast unencrypted on French television by M6, but also by the pay channel beIN Sports. The German Felix Zwayer will be responsible for refereeing this match. In this meeting at the summit of Euro 2024, the Nazionale is logically given the favorite by the various sports betting sites. The odds for an Italian victory oscillate between 1.3 and 5 while that of an Albanian victory is almost 10. The odds for a draw are around 5.