Euro 2024, Italy-Albania in the sign of Bastoni-Barella. Spalletti: “Many good things, but…”

Euro 2024, Italy-Albania 2-1. Spalletti, ‘we saw many good things but we could have done badly several times’

“We have seen many good things, but they have to lead somewhere. Otherwise if they are ends in themselves they are of no use. There was the possibility of hurting multiple timeswe built ourselves the possibility of attacking the defensive line but we went back.” Thus the Italian coach Luciano Spalletti, after the 2-1 victory over Albania in the match valid for group B of Euro 2024. “A stretcher essential? The national team can do without anyone, we have 26 strong players, the team does not depend on just one player”, underlines Spalletti to Rai Sport before explaining the decline in the recovery. “In the second half they tried to do something more because they were losing, we should have carved out even more space but we were sucked into their defensive line and didn’t follow their pressure. We could have pocketed and gotten to the edge of the area, but sometimes we get a little comfortable doing things. Even when we had the ability to manage, we did it in a comfortable, non-tiny way.”

Euro 2024, Italy comes back from Albania. Barella: ‘We deserved to score more goals but we enjoy the victory’

“I was a bit tired, the days in which I was still didn’t help me but I really wanted to because the boys made me feel important. I will spit blood for these guys, this staff and this shirt. We deserved to score more goals but we are enjoying this victory. Will I be there with Spain? The coach decides it, but I’m available.” Thus the midfielder of the Italian national team Nicolò Barella after the 2-1 success over Albania in the Azzurri’s debut match at Euro 2024 and in which the 27-year-old Sardinian scored the match goal.

Italy, Calafiori: ‘I try to play for the national team as well as for the club, I think I’ve done well’

“It wasn’t easy to start with that one goal deficit. I try to play as I play in the club, the responsibilities are different obviously but I try not to think about it. There are many emotions. The secret is a bit like that, not to think about the rest and only take in the positive sensations, my family in the stands or friends in front of the TV. I think I did well“. Thus the defender of the Italian national team Riccardo Calafiorion Sky Sport’s microphone, after the 2-1 victory over Albania in the debut match at Euro 2024.

Italy Church, ‘we have shown that we are strong’

“I had flashbacks of the final against England, but as against the English we did the same thing. We dominated the game and maintained the right positions on the pitch.” Thus the Italy striker Federico Chiesa after the 2-1 victory over Albania in the opening match of Euro 2024. “Our first goal gave us a shock and from then on we were very proactive – adds Chiesa, voted MVP of the match, on Sky Sport’s microphone -. We created a lot and in my opinion we even deserved a few more goals, in fact, in the end we even risked a draw. We absolutely need to improve on this, we need to be more cynical and close it because anything can happen in Europe. The coach wants us to impose our game, I have always overlapped as the coach asks me to. We have shown that we are strong and we are happy with this great result.”

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ITALY – ALBANIA 2-1 (1′ Bajrami, 11′ Bastoni, 16′ Barella)

ITALY (4-2-3-1): Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Calafiori, Bastoni, Dimarco (82′ Darmian); Barella (90’+1 Folorunsho), Jorginho; Chiesa (76′ Cambiaso), Frattesi, Pellegrini (76′ Cristante); Scamacca (82′ Retegui). Available: Vicario, Meret, Mancini, Buongiorno, Gatti, Bellanova, Fagioli, Zaccagni, El Shaarawy, Raspadori Coach: Spalletti.

ALBANIA (4-3-3): Strakosha; Hysaj, Djimsiti, Ajeti, Mitaj; Asllani, Ramadani, Bajrami (86′ Muci); Asani (68′ Hoxha), Broja (76′ Manaj), Seferi (68′ Laci). Available: Kastrati, Berisha, Balliu, Ismajli, Mihaj, Kumbulla, Aliji, Gjasula, Abrashi, M.Berisha, Daku. Coach: Sylvinho.

Referee: Felix Zwayer (Germany); Assistants: Achmuller (Germany) and Lupp (Germany); 4th officer: Siebert (Germany); VAR: Dingert (Germany) and Dieperink (Holland).

Booked: Pellegrini (I), Calafiori (I), Broja (A), Hoxha (A)