Italy-Albania is a match on the first day of the group stage of Euro 2024 and is played Saturday at 9 p.m.: statistics, likely lineups, predictions, live TV and streaming.
Italy landed in Germany with baggage filled with questions and also accompanied by a mix of skepticism and defeatism. Few, very few believe that the Azzurri are capable of repeating the feat accomplished three years ago, when against all odds they managed to win the second European Championship in their history, even beating England in the Wembley final after penalty kicks.
The joy of that resounding success evaporated very quickly, however, and it could not have been otherwise after the failure to qualify for the Qatari World Cup, a resounding flop and still hard to explain. On the bench since last summer is Luciano Spalletti, Napoli’s Scudetto leader who took over from the resigning Roberto Mancini, worn down by the World Cup fiasco. The new technical commissioner right from the start has tried to convey his own philosophy of play, also favoring generational turnover, but his Italy has so far only partially convinced, partly because what is lacking is the so-called “raw material,” especially from the midfield up. The Azzurri qualified for Euro 2024 as second behind the unreachable England (two defeats out of two with the English), narrowly avoiding the play-offs thanks to a win on the last day with Ukraine.
An Italy still undecipherable
In the last year, Italy has cashed in just one defeat but in the 4 friendlies played in 2024 (3 wins and a draw) it has not particularly shined, especially in ball possession.
Starting from the fourth bracket in the group draw, it fell into a difficult group, undoubtedly the toughest of all. Spain is one of the candidates for the final victory, Croatia has become accustomed to always making it to the bottom and then there is Albania, in its second participation in the final phase of a European championship, which could prove particularly tricky. Brazilian head coach Sylvinho has managed to give a more “modern” (and therefore offensive) game to a selection whose main reservoir has long been our Serie A, and it is not surprising that most of the summoned players play in Italy. Albania in the qualifiers finished in first place ahead of the Czech Republic and Poland, and in the last two friendlies with Liechtenstein and Azerbaijan they appeared quite spirited (3-0 and 3-1) and already well broken in.
The latest lineup news
In the last friendlies Spalletti officially cleared the three-man defense, but apparently against Albania he will return to the 4-2-3-1. At the back trust Calafiori, who will play alongside Bastoni, on the outside lanes instead will act Di Lorenzo, ahead of Cambiaso, and Dimarco. Barella has cleared the physical problem and is ready to support Jorginho in the midfield. Frattesi will act as a trequartista between the tall outfielders Chiesa and Pellegrini, while the offensive terminal of the Azzurri lineup will be Scamacca.
Sylvinho had the merit of tactically disrupting Albania, switching to a more unprejudiced 4-2-3-1, with the trio formed by Asani, Bajrami and Seferi behind the only forward Broja. In the midfield two more “Italians”: Ramadani of Lecce and Asllani of Inter. Finally, three familiar faces in defense: in front of goalkeeper Berisha, who played at Empoli this year, in addition to Mitaj (Lokomotiv Moscow), Hysaj, Ismajli and Djimsiti will act.
The prediction
For Italy any result other than victory would make everything more difficult, if we consider that the Azzurri in the next two matches will have to face Spain and Croatia. The last four previous records tell us that when we face Albania we hardly ever slip up: friendly wins in 2014 and 2022 and two wins as well in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers. Given the importance of what is at stake, Spalletti’s men, although they have not enchanted at all in recent outings, should be able to bring home the first three points. As for the number of goals, we believe that in the end the total ones will be at least 3, since the brash Albania will try to keep its center of gravity always high, ready to play it openly and take advantage of any spaces left by the Azzurri.
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The probable lineups of Italy-Albania
ITALY (4-2-3-1): Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Bastoni, Calafiori, Dimarco; Barella, Jorginho; Chiesa, Frattesi, Pellegrini; Scamacca.
ALBANIA (4-2-3-1): Berisha; Hysaj, Ismajli, Djimsiti, Mitaj; Asllani, Ramadani; Asani, Bajrami, Seferi; Broja.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 2-1
