Italy vs Albania Euro 2024 Prediction: Can Albania pull off a major shock? | OneFootball

Euro 2024 continues with one of the underdogs, Albania, taking on Italy in Group B.

Italy vs Albania Euro 2024 Prediction: Can Albania pull off a major shock?

Italy vs Albania Latest Prediction

There wouldn’t have been many better fixtures for reigning European Champions, Italy, to start their Euro 2024 campaign with than against Albania.

Italy have been drawn into a tough Group B alongside Spain and Croatia and will be viewing this fixture as one to get valuable points on the board. Albania, entering just their second European Championships, after finishing third in Group A in 2016. Italy should be winning this fixture and, whilst it could be a potential banana skin, we’re predicting they pick up a comfortable win and gain a massive advantage when it comes to qualification from Group B.

We’ll also have more tips here closer to the time so make sure you check back closer to kick off for all of our best tips and predictions.

Italy and Albania open their Euro 2024 accounts on June 15 in Dortmund with both searching for three points to kickstart their campaign. `

Italy finished second in Group C to qualify for Euro 2024, finishing behind the side they beat in the Euro 2020 final, England. They lost both games against The Three Lions in qualifying, whilst two draws with Ukraine left them needing goal difference to finish ahead of Serhiy Rebrov’s side and avoid a playoff. It’s not been the best of times for Italy since their Euro 2020 triumph but this is the perfect time to get their form back and attempt to retain their title.

Albania topped Group E to qualify, finishing ahead of both Czech Republic and Poland en route to victory. Their only loss in qualifying came in their first match, against Poland, but an unbeaten remainder, combined with some poor results for the other sides in the group, ensured Albania were automatic qualifiers for the side managed by ex-Arsenal and Man City defender, Sylvinho.

Italy Latest Team News

There’s no denying that there’s plenty of talent available to Luciano Spalletti but a poor qualifying campaign, coupled with failing to qualify for the 2022 World Cup, has left question marks over whether they still have the ability to perform on the biggest stage. Four years is a long time in international football and it’s felt like an even bigger period of time since Italy were celebrating at Wembley in 2020.

Defensively Italy have a reasonable, if unspectacular, back line and the skills of Gianluigi Donnarumma, in between the sticks, could be pivotal to their success. Midfield stability is in abundance for Gli Azzurri with the likes of Nicolo Barella and Jorginho but there are question marks over whether they possess the player to unlock opposition defences. The lack of a genuine top level goalscorer is also a concern for the reigning European Champions and the like of Federico Chiesa and Riccardo Orsolini will have to step up to address that problem.

Italy success at Euro 2024 could well come down to how well they perform in this opening match. A comfortable win could provide the base, and momentum, they need to gain results against Spain and Croatia but anything else could derail their campaign before it really gets going.

Albania Latest Team News

There aren’t many household names in the Albania squad but they shouldn’t be ignored, especially after a very impressive qualifying campaign.

Both Nedim Bajrami and Jasir Asani scored three times in their qualifying campaign but it was a true team effort that got them to their second ever European Championships, with seven different players finding the net in their eight games. Armando Broja might be the name fans of English football are most familiar with the striker appearing for Southampton, Chelsea and Fulham over the past three years and his experience at the highest level could be invaluable.

Perhaps most impressively, Albania only conceded four goals in their eight qualifying campaigns and that sturdy defence, led by Lazio defender Elseid Hysaj, might be a major cause of frustration for the other sides in Group B.

Italy vs Albania Head to Head

It won’t come as a huge surprise to learn that Italy’s record against Albania is an overwhelming positive one, with the Italian side winning all four of their matches against Kuqezinjtë. Albania have only found the net once against Italy, in their last meeting in 2022.

How to watch Italy vs Albania Live

Group B sees Italy take on Albania at BVB Stadion Dortmund, Dortmund on June 15 and all of the action will be live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, as well as online on the BBC website.

Every game at Euro 2024 will be shown live on either BBC or ITV, with the two platforms sharing the broadcast rights.