Italy display class to win after shock of early goal

The car horns were blaring all afternoon, roaring up and down the highway leading to Borussia Dortmund’s Westfalenstadion.

- JAMIE BRAIDWOOD

Italy Bastoni (11), Barella (16) 2

Albania Bajrami (1) 1

Passengers leaned out of windows to fly the flag of the doubleheaded eagle, announcing en masse the arrival of Albania to Euro 2024. Tens of thousands had made the 22-hour drive from the edge of the Adriatic Sea to the Ruhr, Germany’s industrial heartland, to face the reigning European champions. Inspired by their transformative coach, Sylvinho, they travelled with more than hope on their side: filling three sides of the Westfalenstadion and most of the Yellow Wall as well. Albania turned it red, drowning out the famed Azzurri.

And then suddenly Italy were wobbling, their crown teetering on the edge as the Westfalenstadion exploded and the drums pounded in their ears. Albania stunned Italy with the fastest goal in Euros history, coming after just 23 seconds, as Federico Dimarco left his throw-in short, Alessandro Bastoni melted into the ground, and then, before anyone could understand what was happening, Nedim Bajrami thumped a strike inside Gianluigi Donnarumma’s near post. Bajrami raced away, falling into the embrace of a stadium losing its head.

Italy trudged back to halfway and in that moment it seemed the latest twist in the cycle of turmoil that has followed the Azzurri since they defeated England on penalties to win the Euros. Luciano Spalletti, parachuted into the job less than a year ago after the European champions failed to qualify for the World Cup under Roberto Mancini, may have watched on and wondered what he had got himself into after quitting his sabbatical on his Tuscan farm.