Reigning Champions Italy open their title defence against Albania in Group B, with each team eager to get a fast start in the tournament.
Only two teams have won three European Championships, and only one has consecutive titles to their name. Italy can join both groups should they retain their title here in Germany, as they get set to start their defence against Albiania. The Azzurri come into this continental tournament at the back of many changes and in some supreme defensive form.
New manager Luciano Spalletti has changed the way Italy approach games since succeeding Roberto Mancini in the dugout. The reigning champions have not conceded in 317 minutes of football, including the two pre-tournament friendlies against Turkey and Bosnia-Herzegovina. The former Napoli boss will want to see his brand of football being played here at the grand tournament.
Italy will aim for a fast start to their Group B proceedings, as this is one of the toughest groups of all, including the likes of Spain and Croatia. Hence, Spalletti will only be satisfied with three points on board in their opening game against underdogs Albania at the Westfalenstadion in Dortmund.
Sylvinho becomes only the second Brazilian manager to take charge of a European team in the championships after Luis Felipe Scolari managed Portugal in the 2008 contest. The Brazilian has a big task at hand to help Albania manoeuvre through this tough Group, as he will surely target progression into the knockout phases.
While Albania will be considered the underdogs and the fourth-best side in Group B, they did have a tremendous qualifying campaign and topped their group. However, many believe the group draws to be very tough on the minnows, although they can surely write an unprecedented underdog story should they make it past the ‘Group of Death’.
Team News & Tactics
Italy
Luciano Spalletti is sweating on the fitness of key midfielder Nicolo Barella as well as Nicolo Fagioli, although the former is a sure starter for the former Napoli boss. The Inter Milan star’s potential absence might have an impact on how the manager sets his team up for this opening game, as he is fundamental to how Italy plays.
Hence, there is a big chance of Spalletti going with a back three instead and discarding the three-man midfield setup he likes. With that in mind, the Italy boss might go with two left-footers in the backline as Alessandro Buogiorno features in the central zone. Napoli star Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Inter Milan’s Alessandro Bastoni will feature on either side of the Torino man.
Jorginho will sit at the base of the Italian midfield and will have more responsibilities in this game due to Barella’s absence. The Arsenal man will have AS Roma’s Bryan Cristante beside him while Andrea Cambiaso and Federico Dimarco take up the wing-back positions in this Azzurri setup.
Spalletti will persist with an attacking midfielder in his ranks, as Lorenzo Pellegrini will take that role and support the two strikers Federico Chiesa and Gianluca Scamacca up front.
Probable Lineup (3-4-1-2): Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Buongiorno, Bastoni; Cambiasso, Cristante, Jorginho, Dimarco; Pellegrini; Scamacca, Chiesa
Albania
Sylvinho will have a full complement of players available for selection and will certainly field his strongest eleven to take on Italy in their opening game at the Euros. There are some familiar names to consider in the setup for the manager, as Europa League-winning Atalanta defender Berat Djimsiti will captain this Albanian side at the Euros.
Their team also consists of Inter Milan’s Scudetto-winning midfielder Kristjan Asllani to choose from, while there is more Serie A representation in the form of Marash Kumbulla and Nedim Bajrami, both of whom suffered relegation with Sassuolo last season.
Armando Broja will spearhead Albania’s attack despite a difficult club-level season for him, as he replaces long-term striker Sokol Cikalleshi, who has announced his retirement from national team duties. Sylvinho will prefer a 4-2-1-3 shape to counter Italy in the opening game, although this is the setup the Brazilian would ideally prefer throughout the tournament.
Probable Lineup (4-2-1-3): Berisha; Hysaj, Ismajli, Djimsiti, Mitaj; Asllani, Ramadani; Bajrami; Asani, Broja, Seferi
Key Stats
- Italy are unbeaten in their last six international games.
- Italy have not conceded in 317 minutes of International football.
- Italy have won their last four matches against Albania in all competitions.
- Sylvinho will become the first Brazilian to lead a European team in the Euros after Luiz Felipe Scolari did with Portugal in 2008.
- Albania only conceded four goals in their eight qualifying games and have won their two pre-tournament friendlies.
Player to Watch
Jorginho
Jorginho’s inclusion in Luciano Spalletti’s squad was not a surprise. But the exclusion of Manuel Locatelli certainly was. As a result, the Arsenal midfielder is expected to feature heavily for Italy in their defence of the European Championships, and heading into the opener against Albania, he will be the man to watch out for.
The potential absence of Barella leads to a change in Spalletti’s shape and adds more responsibility to Jorginho’s experienced shoulders. The Gunners man is expected to play as a deep-lying playmaker in this system against Albania, as well as help screen an otherwise formidable defensive setup behind him.
Prediction
Italy 1-0 Albania
Italy are not a team revered for their goalscoring prowess, and they might continue to struggle in that aspect during the tournament. While they do boast some decent strikers, none are known to be prolific, although they might be the ones to take the chances when they arrive.
Albania will come into this game as the underdogs, with out-of-form striker Broja leading the line for them against a rather formidable Italian backline. The Azzurri have the defensive capabilities to keep a clean sheet here, as they might continue to struggle in front of goal and take a narrow 1-0 win to begin their title defence.
