Italy – Albania. Predicted line-ups and latest news, – June 15, 2024

On 15 June, the Italy national team will enter the procedure of defending the title of European champion - at the Westfalenstadion in Dortmund there will be a match of the first round of UEFA Euro 2024 between the teams of Italy and Albania.

The teams have been preparing for the tournament at a slightly different pace. The Italians did not concede a goal in the two June meetings, but scored only one goal against Bosnia and Herzegovina, which brought the Scuadra Azzurra victory. In the first summer sparring session, a dry draw with Türkiye was recorded. The Albanians had much more modest opponents - Azerbaijan (3:1) and Liechtenstein (3:0).

• Read also: Italy at Euro 2024: squad, group, schedule, kits and odds to win

But, regarding the results of his team in friendlies, Italy head coach Luciano Spaletti is not worried:

«In some matches there are results that are the opposite of how the game would have developed. It is important to always be a team and show the same football: I am convinced that our team will show what they want to do.

When you have so little time, but when you train with such seriousness, your work becomes even more correct than at the club. I've seen that the lads are very attentive, doing what they are asked to do straight away. We will be on the pitch exactly as we want to be».

His vis-à-vis Silvinho spoke to the same about his selection for the matches before the match, and emphasised that he had worked everything out thoroughly:

«We studied all three opponents, we paid a lot of attention to Italy as the first opponent. We worked for six or seven days, enough time to strategise. Then we thought about the other two matches. For Italy, our desire is to go on the pitch and play well.

When a player has a lot of game time at a club, it's good. Physically, even the guys who don't often play in their team are doing well, even individually. Physically, Asani and Broya look good».

As for specific names, Spaletti had a major headache even before the final bid was submitted. Francesco Acerbi and Giorgio Scalvini suffered serious injuries and had to be replaced.

Moreover, Davide Frattesi, Nicolo Faggioli, who made the squad despite not playing for seven months due to a betting ban, and Nicolo Barella are expected to miss the match due to muscle problems.

Spalletti has experimented with numerous formations and varied the squad in recent months, but captain Gianluigi Donnarumma is certain to play in goal and up front there looks set to be direct competition between Gianluca Scamacca and Mateo Retegui.

Silvinho, on the other hand, has had no such problems. He can count on all the players, including the main stars: Berat Djimsiti, who recently triumphed with Atalanta in the Europa League, and Cristian Asllani, who won the Scudetto with Inter.

• Read also: Albania at Euro 2024: squad, group, schedule, kits and odds to win

Armando Broja will take his place in the main squad, despite time constraints at club level. It was he who allowed Sokol Cikalleshi, who scored eight goals in qualifying, to make the end of his international career.

Relying on all the factors, the Dailysports team has prepared for you the predicted line-ups for the Italy vs Albania match.

Italy predicted line-up:

Donnarumma – Di Lorenzo, Buongiorno, Bastoni, Dimarco – Cristante, Jorginho – Frattesi, Pellegrini, Chiesa – Scamacca

Albania predicted line-up:

E. Berisha – Hysaj, Ismajli, Djimsiti, Mitaj – Asllani, Ramadani – Asani, Bajrami, Seferi – Broja

The Italy vs Albania match will take place on 15 June at the Westfalenstadion in Dortmund. The starting whistle of German referee Felix Zwaier will sound at 21:00 CET.