JAKARTA - The follow-up match of the Euro 2024 group stage will continue tonight after the first match of the competition was held this morning. One of the matches we have been waiting for tonight is to see Italy's progress when they meet Albania.
Italy as defending champions will start efforts to defend the title by facing Albania at Borussia Dortmund's headquarters at Signal Iduna Park Stadium, Germany, Sunday, June 16 at 02.00 WIB.
Gli Azzurri who are not seeded this year need to prove in their first match tonight. On the other hand, the opponents on paper they can beat could provide a surprise to qualify from the group stage in their second appearance in this big tournament.
This year is the eleventh time Italy have taken part in the Euros and have come out as two-time champions. Another trophy before the last edition they brought home was in the 1968 edition when they hosted the tournament.
Thus, this year they will automatically be on par with Germany and Spain as the country that most lifts the Euro trophy if they manage to defend Henri Delaunay Trophy next month in Berlin.
In addition, Luciano Spalletti's side will also strive to become the second team to win the Euros in a row after the Spanish national team did so in 2008 and 2012.
However, only a few observers have champions Spalletti's team. The reason is, the Azzurri arrived in Germany in the shadow of failing to qualify for the 2022 World Cup even though they were unbeaten in their last six matches.
Since replacing Roberto Mancini who helped the team win Euro 2020 three years ago, Spalletti has brought his country six wins and three draws.
However, Italy, which is currently ranked ninth in the world according to FIFA, still has a tough task in Group B. There are Spain and Croatia which of course could be a problem for the injury-hit team.
Although there were several players who missed the back line, La Nazionale had not conceded in 317 minutes of their last game. That includes a 0-0 draw with Turkey and a 1-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Statistically Italy have conceded just six goals in their last 12 games in this competition. The last is when they won at Wembley in 2021 by beating the hosts England.
On paper, the Azzurri are favored in tonight's match. Because the opponent they are going to beat in the previous four meetings.
But that record cannot be used as a benchmark because when they struggle to get past Ukraine to qualify for the tournament finals, Albania is even able to top the group.
After losing their opening match against Poland, they had their next seven games without losing. They then finished over the Czech Republic in second place and Poland in third.
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This is Albania's second chance to play at the Euros after 2016. At the time of their first appearance they only secured one win against Romania in the group's last game.
Jadi, kemenangan dalam pertandingan persahabatan terhadap Liechtenstein dan Azerbaijan pekan lalu tidak akan banyak membantu mengurangi kekalahan bahwa Albania bisa lolos dari Grup Hell di tahun ini.
Formation Estimated
Italy (4-2-3-1): Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Buongiorno, Bastoni, Dimarco; Cristante, Jorginho; Frattesi, Pellegrini, Chiesa; Scamacca
Albania (4-2-3-1): E. Berisha; Hysaj, Ismajli, Djimsiti, Mitaj; Asllani, Ramadani; Asani, Bajrami, Seferi; Broja
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