On the early morning of June 16 at 3:00 AM, in the first round of Group B matches in the UEFA Euro, defending champions Italy will face Albania. The Azzurri are dealing with numerous injuries and an incomplete squad, while Albania enters the tournament without significant pressure, potentially setting the stage for a tough encounter for Italy.
Currently ranked ninth in the world, Italy is a two-time European champion. Three years ago, they captured the title, showcasing the allure of team football. However, the lack of continuity in developing top talent has been evident, as they missed out on two consecutive FIFA World Cup finals, causing a major setback.
In this Euro edition, Italy has adopted a low-key approach. With a total squad value of 705 million euros, they rank sixth among the 24 teams, trailing England, France, Portugal, Spain, and the Netherlands. Both José Mourinho and Michael Ballack have expressed doubts about Italy’s chances of repeating as champions.
The skepticism surrounding Italy is understandable, given their absence from the last two World Cups and the decline of Serie A as a whole. Without iconic figures like Baggio, Totti, or Pirlo leading the way, winning the title seems challenging. Additionally, Italy has been plagued by injuries, with key players like Acerbi, Zaniolo, and Spinazzola already ruled out of the tournament.
Even before the tournament began, injuries continued to mount, with central midfielder Fagioli and Barella only recently resuming training, casting doubt on their availability. Despite this, Italy has shown decent form in their last ten matches, securing six wins, three draws, and one loss – a 1-3 defeat away to England.
Albania, currently ranked 66th in the FIFA rankings, is the second-lowest ranked team in the Euros, ahead of Georgia at 75th. Returning to the final stage after an eight-year gap, the Albanian squad carries no significant burden. In their last ten games, they’ve had a mixed record of five wins, three draws, and two losses.
In four previous encounters against Albania, Italy has emerged victorious in all four, scoring seven goals while conceding only one, keeping clean sheets in three of those matches. This psychological advantage is quite evident.
Nonetheless, Albania, despite its modest squad, boasts players competing in Europe’s top leagues, including Broja, along with Asllani, Berisha, Hysaj, Ismajli, Kumbulla, and Jimenez, who are familiar with Italian football. Thus, they might utilize targeted strategies to limit Italy’s strengths, potentially creating opportunities for an upset.
It’s worth noting that Italy is part of a challenging group. With Spain and Croatia facing each other in their opening match, Italy will aim to secure a victory against the seemingly weaker Albania. Otherwise, the subsequent fixtures against these strong opponents could prove difficult.
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