Italy vs Albania - Euro 2024: Live score, team news and updates as European champions begin title defence as Gianluca Scamacca starts for Luciano Spalletti's side... with 50,000 Albanian fans expected for Group B clash in Dortmund
18:58
Here come the teams!
The teams are on their ways out. The officials are wearing a nice gold.
Time for the anthems. I've got a really funny story about winding my sister up pretending I knew the words to every national anthem once, but that's a story for another time. Although my colleague has just told me that Italy have the best national anthem in the world?
Now they're done, we're ready to go. Albania fans are making it deafening.
18:53
'There are red shirts everywhere'
Riath Al-Samarrai, Mail Sport, in Dortmund:
The Westfalenstadion has been taken over by Albanians. That would go for the entire city of Dortmund. It was true of the central train station at 9am this morning and more so inside the stadium an hour before kick-off. There are red shirts everywhere and of course the qeleshe hats (white without a peak) of traditional dress.
What blue there is on sight is consumed by red in all parts of the ground. It does make you wonder what effect the atmosphere might have on a game for which the defending champions are favourites.
There a few connections to English football in this Albania set-up. Sylvinho and Pablo Zabaleta are familiar faces in their technical area and on the pitch the Chelsea striker Armando Broja leads the line. Less recognisable is their keeper – Brentford’s back-up stopper Thomas Strakosha.
18:51
Warm-ups complete
The players have been getting warm in the stadium and the time for talking is once again done.
The teams will be on their ways out soon.
All signs point to an Italy win, but anything can happen in these sort of tournaments.
18:47
The Albanians are ready
Like with Croatia and Spain earlier, Albania fans are set to massively outnumber their Italian counterparts inside the ground.
The fans are set and ready. It promises to be another electric atmosphere.
I hope we can keep up with the amount of goals we've had so far too. If my maths is right, we're averaging over four a game so far.
18:44
Supporters dance together pre-match
They may have snapped their spaghetti, but it's all fun and games really in Dortmund.
Supporters of both Albania and Italy have been dancing outside the ground.
18:41
A shadow of their former selves
Italy shocked a fair few when they won Euro 2021. We all remember it, come on.
They didn't qualify for the tournament before or the tournament after. A lot has changed since, too, with just nine survivours from that squad in Germany.
The men that made up their resolute defence has gone and they crept through qualification in England's group.
We will see what they have to offer again tonight. Read more on their transition below.
18:30
Albanian fans commit Italian crime
The mockery has already begun...
Albanian fans have been spotted breaking spaghetti in-half right in front of Italian blood.
18:26
What the coaches say - Sylvinho
We've built a team that plays with heart and intelligence. Each player understands their role and the collective goal we are striving for.
Facing teams like Italy, Croatia and Spain is a huge challenge, but it's also an incredible opportunity to show our progress and make our nation proud.
Broja's speed and technical ability will be crucial for us. His ability to exploit spaces could be a game-changer.
18:24
What the coaches say - Luciano Spalletti
Coming to the tournament as defending champions is an advantage. But we need to understand straight away that we need to behave like defending champions.
We need to convince ourselves, not only the fans. In a way, we are facing ourselves, not the outside world. We need to show what we are made of, to show what we have inside.
This is a tricky match. Sylvinho has done a very good job with a host of quality players, many of whom we know from Serie A.
18:21
Italy fans have found their seats
The Italian fans have arrived at Borussia Dortmund's infamous stadium.
Although they may be outnumbered by the Albanian fans, they have arrived in voice and dressed head to toe in patriotism.
18:16
Fanmania has hit Dortmund
Just less than an hour to go and the atmosphere is building.
Despite facing stiff competition tonight, Albania fans have arrived in good spirits and in the thousands.
with an estimated 50,000 Albanians expected to fill Signal Iduna Park.
18:12
Team News - Albania
Atalanta centre-back Berat Gjimshiti will lead out Albania as they hope to cause a huge upset over the defending champions.
Whilst Chelsea striker Aramando Broja who is currently on loan at Fulham will lead the charge for Slyvinho’s side up front.
18:06
Team News - Italy
Scamacca starts up front for Spalletti's men as the three-time Serie A coach of the year names a strong starting XI to get their title defence underway.
PSG's Gianluigi Donnarumma captains the Azzurri from goal whilst a new generation pairing at centre-back between Bastoni and Calafiori showcases the change this Italian tream has underwent since their winning campaign at Euro 2020.
When they lifted the trophy with veterans Chiellini and Bonucci three years ago.
17:58
EURO 2024 TEAM GUIDE: Albania
Although Slyvinho’s men are in the fable ‘Group of Death’ they are not heading to Germany just to merely show up.
Despite being the lowest ranked side at the tournament besides Georgia, Albania are a tough team to break down with their foundations being built on a strong defensive base.
Although Spain, Italy and Croatia is a daunting task, the Albians will not be fazed and will be looking to cause a huge upset against one of the three tournament heavyweights.
17:56
EURO 2024 - TEAM GUIDE: Italy
Defending champions Italy head into Euro 2024 as one of the dark horses once again and they will be relishing under the title.
The Azzurri have the opportunity to join only Germany and Spain on three wins which would make them the most successful country in the tournament alongside the other two.
If Italy are to claim back-to-back titles they have the right man to lead them. Arguably the best coach in the competition Spalletti has an array of achievements to his name.
Most notably leading Napoli to a Serie A title during the 2022-23 season and winning back-to-back Coppa Italia’s with Roma in 2006-07 and 2007-08.
17:51
Only Albania's second major tournament appearance
As I mentioned, today will only mark Albania’s second appearance in a major tournament.
The only previous tournament the Eastern European country has appeared in was the 2016 Euros.
They were drawn in Group A alongside hosts France, Switzerland and Romania. They lost their opening two games - knocking them out the competition.
However they did record their first win in a major tournament in their final group game when they defeated Romania 1-0 thanks to a 43’ minute goal by Armando Sadiku.
17:44
Familiar face within Albania’s team
Premier League fans may recognise the man who will be taking charge of Albania when they face Italy tonight.
The former Manchester City and Arsenal defender will be leading out the Albos in only their second major tournament appearance.
The two-time Champions League winner was appointed as Albania’’s head coach in January 2023, after spells with Lyon and Corinthians, neither of which were that successful.
Pablo Zabaleta is his assistant, too.
17:32
History does not favour the defending champions
History does not favour Luciano Spalletti’s men as the go in hunt of becoming back-to-back champions.
Nobody expected the Italians to claim the title three years ago and their odds of winning once again are even slimmer - especially since history does not side with them.
The only country to have completed back-to-back titles in the European Championships is Spain. The Spanish completed the impressive achievement back in 2008 and 2012, also winning the World Cup around the same time in 2010.
17:28
Italy get their title defence underway
Good evening!
Wow, what a day of football we have already had.
Hungary vs Switzerland set the tempo for today early on with a four goal thriller as Breel Embolo registered the Swiss’ third goal of the game in the dying moments to see off any comeback planned by the Margyars.
Next up was Spain vs Croatia… and wow did that not disappoint. Three-time champions have stunned Modric and Co to take a 3-0 lead with a half hour of football still left to play
Today’s action has been jam packed but I hope you have left a bit of energy left for Italy vs Albania as the Azzuri’s get set to begin their title defence.
Ahead of Kick-off, we’ll have all the updates, team news and quotes from the managers and players, before jumping right into the live action when the game kick-offs at 8pm to provide you with minute-by-minute action.
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Team News - Albania
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Team News - Italy
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EURO 2024 TEAM GUIDE: Albania
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EURO 2024 - TEAM GUIDE: Italy
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