Italy recovered from conceding the fastest goal in the competition’s history to get their defence of the European Championship title off to a winning start on Saturday as they came back to beat Albania 2-1 in front of a partisan crowd.

Nedim Bajrami stunned the Italians and delighted a huge Albanian support in Dortmund as he smashed in the opener after just 23 seconds, his strike pulverising the previous record for the quickest goal at the Euros of 67 seconds by Dmitri Kirichenko of Russia in 2004.

Yet Italy’s response to falling behind was quick too, as Alessandro Bastoni headed the Azzurri level on 11 minutes and Nicolo Barella’s glorious effort put them ahead just past the quarter-hour mark.

From then on Luciano Spalletti’s team looked much more assured, although they really should have won by a greater margin rather than face an anxious finale as Albania pushed for an equaliser.

Their performance -– the first 23 seconds apart -– was largely encouraging before an enticing showdown with fellow heavyweights Spain in nearby Gelsenkirchen next Thursday.

Whatever happens in that match, Italy are already well-placed to advance to the knockout phase of Euro 2024 from Group B, in which Spain defeated Croatia 3-0 earlier on Saturday in Berlin.

Italy are in some ways an unknown quantity coming into this tournament, with the reigning champions having also missed the last two World Cups and failed to fully convince during qualifying.

Only five of Italy’s line-up at kick-off here started the final of the last Euros three years ago, with a new-look team featuring Bologna centre-back Riccardo Calafiori winning just his third cap.

Bajrami makes history

Albania, though, are appearing at just their second major tournament having also gone to Euro 2016.

The novelty of the experience for them helps explain why the home of Borussia Dortmund was a sea of excitable Albanian fans decked in red and black who made up the vast majority of the crowd.

They could hardly believe it when their team, coached by the Brazilian former Arsenal and Barcelona left-back Sylvinho, opened the scoring almost straight from kick-off.

Italy’s Federico Dimarco took a throw from the left-back position but played it loosely back into his own box. Bastoni was caught on the back foot, and Bajrami –- who plays in Italy for Sassuolo — pounced to control and fire past Gianluigi Donnarumma at the goalkeeper’s near post.

It was a similar start to Italy’s last European Championship match, when Luke Shaw put England ahead inside two minutes in the final at Wembley in 2021 before the Azzurri came back to win on penalties.

This time they drew level when Dimarco and Lorenzo Pellegrini played a short corner routine on the left before the latter crossed for Inter Milan centre-back Bastoni to head in at the back post.

Italy had regained their composure and soon went in front on 16 minutes, a Jasir Asani clearance dropping straight to another Inter player in Barella, who made the cleanest of contacts at the edge of the area to send a first-time shot past goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha.

They should have added to their lead before the interval, with Davide Frattesi hitting the post after meeting a lovely reverse pass by Gianluca Scamacca in the box.

Scamacca was then denied by Strakosha, while Fedrico Chiesa curled a shot just wide on the hour mark.

Italy then sat back, but Albania did not manage another attempt on target and the second-lowest ranked nation in the competition could not find an equaliser despite their best efforts late on.

-AFP

Following is reaction from Friday’s Euro 2024 opening game in which Germany beat 10-man Scotland 5-1, with goals from Florian Wirtz, Jamal Musiala, Kai Havertz, Niclas Fullkrug and Emre Can for Germany, and an own goal by Antonio Ruediger for the Scots.

Germany striker Fullkrug: “In the beginning we needed a few minutes to get into the game, it was a big game for us. Then we got better and better in possession, we got confidence we did not let up after each goal.

“We kept at it, hungry and greedy, it was a fully deserved win against a team who had a player less.”

Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann: “In the first 20 minutes we were impressive … we scored two early goals and overall we were very focused and concentrated.”

Scotland coach Steve Clarke: “Germany were outstanding and unfortunately we couldn’t match them. They ran away from us very quickly, didn’t give ourselves a foothold in the game. The end result was a disappointing one.

“What we need to do is still in front of us, that’s what we need to focus on. Four points is the target.”

Germany midfielder Ilkay Gundogan: “We played with a lot of intensity, we played in the right spaces, we took some risks and that is why we scored. We played a really good first half and we were up 3-0.

“That is how we wanted to start. The start is what we wanted, but still, the goal we conceded showed that all teams have quality, and if you don’t pay attention you will be punished.”

Scotland captain Andy Robertson: “First half, we just got it all wrong really, didn’t show up, weren’t aggressive enough, and we let good players get on the ball. Second half, we’re down to 10 men and I thought the lads dug in really well.

“We’re so well backed over here, today was hugely disappointing. We have to bounce back quickly, because there was lots wrong here and it’s a quick turnaround now. Maybe it’s a reminder of how tough this tournament is.”

Germany midfielder Emre Can: “A great feeling and a crazy story. This is why we love football, I was on holiday just two days ago, then I got the call on Wednesday, then I joined the team Wednesday evening. I just trained with them once and I came on today and scored.”

Germany midfielder Jamal Musiala: “We know how important it is to start a tournament well. We gave it our all from the first minute, and we have to keep doing that now. Then the fun comes and the goals start flowing.”

-Reuters

Euro 2024 hosts Germany are on course for a narrow victory in their opening match against Scotland – according to an oracle orangutan at Dortmund Zoo.

Walter, 35, is no stranger to predicting the outcome of football matches, and is a veteran of previous World Cup and Euros campaigns, as well as German and European club competitions.

On Thursday two buckets were placed in his enclosure, one with a Germany scarf, one with a Scotland scarf.

“Walter stopped in front of the buckets, and then he took a look at both and he was very strictly going to the German bucket, so I think it must be a victory for the German team against Scotland. But then he went to the Scottish bucket, so may be the Scottish will be very close too,” said zoo spokesperson Marcel Stawinoga.

The tournament starts on Friday in Munich, and Germany will start as strong favourites against Scotland.

Walter joins a list of creatures as differing as an octopus and an elephant, that have predicted the outcomes of international soccer matches, usually by picking one bowl of food bearing a team’s flag over another.

Among the most famous was Paul the oracle octopus who lived in an aquarium in the German city of Oberhausen, and who shot to fame in the 2010 World Cup for his uncanny ability to predict the results of Germany’s matches. He correctly forecast how Germany would fare in seven matches.

-Reuters