So schnell kam noch keine Mannschaft bei einer Fußball-Europameisterschaft zur Sache. Albanien, erst zum zweiten Mal für die EM-Endrunde qualifiziert, traf bei seiner Premierenvorstellung dieses deutschen Sommerturniers schon nach 22 Sekunden zum 1:0 gegen völlig verdutzte Italiener.
Nedim Bajrami, in der abgelaufenen Serie-A-Saison mit US Sassuola abgestiegen, wähnte sich im Fußballhimmel, als er einen völlig deplazierten Einwurf des Linksverteidigers Federico Dimarco dazu nutzte, den Ball unters Dach des italienischen Tors zu zimmern.
Ein Knalleffekt als Schockmoment für die Italiener oder Ansporn, die Verhältnisse umstandslos geradezurücken? Die Squadra Azzurra schüttelte sich kurz, musste noch ein paar bange Momente überstehen – und glich dann durch den Kopfball von Innenverteidiger Alessandro Bastoni, wie Dimarco vom Meister Inter Mailand, rasch aus (11.).
Italien imponiert mit Comeback-Qualitäten
Damit nicht genug, legte Italien durch den Distanzschuss des nach muskulären Problemen rechtzeitig fit gewordenen Mittelfeldstars Nicolo Barella, auch er eine Stütze von Inter, nach (16.). Die erste Viertelstunde dieses Duells der Gruppe B zwischen dem vermeintlich großen Italien und dem frechen Außenseiter Albanien, immerhin Erster der EM-Qualifikationsgruppe E vor Tschechien und Polen, hatte es in sich und passte damit genau in den stimmungsvollen Rahmen dieses Spiels im größten deutschen Stadion, in dem die Albaner auf den Rängen mit mehr als 30.000 Fans anfangs frenetisch den Ton angaben.
On the field, however, the defending champions also impressed with their comeback ability and offensive power after the terrifying shot in the first minute. A European football great cannot be intimidated so quickly.
If midfielder Davide Frattesi, also Inter's national champion, had placed his lob a little better, it would have been 3-1 (33') and there would have been no hit to the post, which was also reflected in the goalkeeper's save. Thomas Strakosha, Lazio's number one for years, thanked him. The match between the enthusiastic players from Southern Europe and the blatant loser from Southeast Europe remained entertaining and exciting until half-time. A thriller for enthusiastic fans here and there.
Italians love it when, like now, they are not considered favorites for the title at a World or European Championship. In 2006, after months of abuse and shame caused by a major manipulation scandal in Serie A Calcio, almost no one had the Squadra Azzurra on the World Cup poster in the tournament in Germany.
And here Italy won the World Cup with a stronghold of football, that the German team failed in the penalty shootout in the semi-final in Dortmund and the even more highly rated French team with Zinedine Zidane in the final in Berlin. In 2021, the cold Italians surprised again in the final of the pan-European European Championship and, after almost always narrow victories, they also defeated the English favorites in the Wembley final thanks to their favorite exercise: the penalty shoot-out.
Manajs missed the 2-2 after a solo race
However, on Saturday night in Dortmund, the four-time world champion and two-time European champion, who was once again not among the big favorites due to his recent teetotal performances, was initially only concerned about a good start, who seemed more passionate than expected under the pressure of conditions against outsiders Albania.
Albania is no longer one of the smallest players in European football, which was reflected in the final classification of group E of the qualification, into which the team of Brazilian coach Sylvinho entered, ahead of the established middle powers of football. the Czech Republic and Poland.
Sylvinho's brave team could no longer shake Italy to its core after the break, as Spalletti's professionals worked more patiently for what could have been the decisive goal and the Albanians had to go through moments. In the end it was a well-deserved 2-1 victory for the favorites, who had to shake again when Manaj's solo run with the last shot grazed the goal in the 90th minute.
“We saw a lot of good things, but only a few,” said Italy coach Luciano Spaletti. “It could have gone wrong several times. “Sometimes we were too comfortable.”
The big duel of the second day of the preliminary round of the European Championship between Italy and Spain will be played on Thursday afternoon (9:00 p.m.). FAZ live ticker for the European Football Championshipon ZDF and on MagentaTV) in Gelsenkirchen, nothing stands in the way, while Albania has its slim chance of reaching the round of 16 on Wednesday (3:00 p.m. in FAZ live ticker for the European Football Championship, on RTL and on MagentaTV) in the duel in Hamburg against the Croatian favorites. In the spirit of Dortmund, it is not a hopeless task.