Italy vs Albania facts

Holders Italy kick off their UEFA EURO 2024 Group B campaign at the BVB Stadium Dortmund against an Albania side they have beaten in all four previous matches between the sides.

The Azzurri remained unbeaten in triumphing at EURO 2020, prevailing on penalties in both the semi-final and final, but had to wait until the final day of qualifying to seal their place in this tournament thanks to a nerve-jangling draw against Ukraine.

Italy therefore qualified for the eighth EURO finals in succession, while Albania are making only their second appearance after making their debut at EURO 2016 in France.

Spain – beaten by Italy in the EURO 2020 semi-finals – and Croatia complete Group B.

Previous meetings

Played 4
Italy wins 4
Albania wins 0
Draws 0
Italy goals 7
Albania goals 1

All four of the teams' meetings have come since November 2014 – and all have been won by Italy.

The most recent of those fixtures was a 3-1 Italy win in a friendly at Tirana's Arena Kombëtare on 16 November 2022. Ardian Ismajli gave Edoardo Reja's Albania a 16th-minute lead – Albania's first goal against Italy – but Giovanni Di Lorenzo levelled within four minutes and an Italy side coached by Roberto Mancini were in front by the 25th minute through Vincenzo Grifo. The same player sealed the win with a clinching third goal four minutes past the hour.

Italy had beaten Albania home and away in 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying, a team coached by Giampiero Ventura winning 2-0 in Palermo on 24 March 2017 thanks to goals from Daniele De Rossi (12 pen) and Ciro Immobile (71).

Albania – with former Italy defender Christian Panucci having replaced Gianni De Biasi as coach – lost 1-0 in Shkoder on 9 October that year, Antonio Candreva marking his 50th cap with the only goal 17 minutes from time.

It had taken a late strike to settle the sides' first fixture, in Genoa on 18 November 2014. Substitute Stefano Okaka got the only goal for Antonio Conte's Azzurri eight minutes from time at the Stadio comunale Luigi Ferraris.

EURO facts

Italy

The Azzurri have been champions of Europe on two occasions – in 1968 and again at EURO 2020. They were also runners-up in 2000 and 2012.

This is Italy's 11th EURO appearance, and an eighth in succession – they last failed to qualify in 1992. In contrast, they have missed out on the last two World Cups.

At EURO 2020 a side coached by Mancini won all three Group A games to finish five points clear in a section also including Wales, Switzerland and Türkiye, before beating both Austria, after extra time, and Belgium 2-1 in the knockout rounds.

They edged past Spain 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the semi-finals and recovered from falling behind in the second minute to defeat England via the same route in the final at Wembley, prevailing 3-2 on spot kicks after another 1-1 draw.

Italy started EURO 2024 qualifying under Mancini, and finished it under Luciano Spalletti, who took over on 1 September 2023 after Mancini's departure the previous month.

Italy were Group C runners-up, losing home (1-2) and away (1-3) against England but booking their finals place with a 0-0 draw against Ukraine in their last qualifier, enough to go through on head-to-head record after both sides had finished with 14 points – six behind England.

Italy have played twice before at the BVB Stadion Dortmund, both against Germany. The most significant encounter was the first, goals late in extra time from Fabio Grosso and Alessandro Del Piero earning a 2-0 win in the 2006 World Cup semi-final; the Azzurri also drew 1-1 in Dortmund in a February 2011 friendly.

Albania

This is only Albania's second EURO appearance – both in the last three tournaments.

They made their debut at EURO 2016, losing 1-0 to Switzerland and 2-0 against hosts France before a 1-0 victory against Romania on Matchday 3, Armando Sadiku scoring the only goal in Lyon. Gianni De Biasi's side therefore finished third in Group A to bow out.

Albania were fourth in their qualifying section for EURO 2020, finishing on 13 points, behind France (25 points), Türkiye (23) and Iceland (19).

With Sylvinho having replaced Edoardo Reja as coach on 1 January 2023, Albania kicked off their 2024 qualifying campaign with a 1-0 loss in Poland but remained unbeaten thereafter (W4 D3) to finish top of Group E on 15 points. They sealed their finals place with a 1-1 draw in Moldova in their penultimate fixture.

That loss to Poland in Albania's first game of 2023 was their only reverse last year; their record otherwise was W5 D3.

Albania's sole previous game at the BVB Stadion Dortmund was an 8-0 loss to West Germany in a 1982 World Cup qualifier in November 1981.

Links and trivia

Have played in Italy:
Kristjan Asllani (Empoli 2012–22, Inter Milan 2022–)
Etrit Berisha (Lazio 2013–16, Atalanta 2016–19, SPAL 2019–21, Torino 2021–23, Empoli 2023–)
Elhan Kastrati (Pescara 2014–20, Piacenza 2016 loan, Trapani 2020 loan, Cittadella 2020–)
Elseid Hysaj (Empoli 2009–16, Napoli 2015–21, Lazio 2021–)
Berat Djimsiti (Atalanta 2016–, Avellino 2016/17 loan, Benevento 2017/18 loan)
Ardian Ismajli (Spezia 2020/21, Empoli 2021–)
Nedim Bajrami (Empoli 2019–23, Sassuolo 2023–)
Ylber Ramadani (Lecce 2023–)
Thomas Strakosha (Lazio 2015–22, Salernitana 2015/16 loan)

Asllani is an Inter team-mate of Italian internationals Matteo Darmian, Alessandro Bastoni, Nicolò Barella, Davide Frattesi and Federico Dimarco.

Hysaj is a team-mate of Mattia Zaccagni at Lazio.

Gianluca Scamacca and Djimsiti play together at Atalanta.

Hysaj was part of the Napoli side that won the Coppa Italia in 2019/20, coming on as a late substitute in the final win against Juventus.

Albania coach Sylvinho was part of the Inter technical staff between 2014 and 2016.