Italy vs Albania LIVE commentary: Date, venue and match preview ahead of Euro 2024 clash as Azzurri begin title defense

Italy, the reigning champion, begins the defense of its European Championship with a confrontation against Albania.

The 2020 winners, who beat England on penalties in the final at Wembley, were included in the tournament’s ‘Group of Death’.

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The Azzurri have struggled since winning the trophy after missing out on the 2022 World Cup, then sneaking into second place in England’s qualifying Group C after losing both home and away against the Three Lions.

Luciano Spalletti has impressed since replacing Roberto Mancini in August 2023 but faces a huge task in his first major tournament.

Albania is considered one of the outsiders in the group, along with European giants Italy, Spain and Croatia.

However, the Rouge et Noir, led by coach Sylvinho, conceded just four goals in qualifying before beating Poland and the Czech Republic to top their group.

Italy vs Albania: date and how to follow

This Group B showdown will take place on Saturday June 15.

Kick-off at Borussia Dortmund’s Signal Iduna Park will be at 8pm UK time.

talkSPORT will have full coverage of the match and more details will follow as the tournament approaches.

To tune into talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 via the website, click HERE for the live stream.

You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, via your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.

The tie will also be shown on free-to-air television on BBC One.

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Italy vs Albania: team news and squads

Arsenal and Tottenham both have stars in Italy’s 30-man provisional squad, with Jorginho and goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario selected.

The latter’s Spurs teammate Destiny Udogie has been sidelined after undergoing surgery following an injury in April.

Marco Verratti, Juventus midfielder Manuel Locatelli and Lazio striker Ciro Immobile were notable absentees from Italy’s long list.

Locatelli’s Juve pal Nicolo Fagioli is included despite recently returning from a seven-month ban for breaking betting rules.

A longer suspension for a similar offense has sidelined Newcastle star Sandro Tonali as he will not be available until August.

Italy preliminary team

• Goalkeepers: Donnarumma (PSG), Vicario (Tottenham), Meret (Naples), Provedel (Lazio)
• Defenders: Acerbi (Inter), Bastoni (Inter), Darmian (Inter), Scalvini (Atalanta), Buongiorno (Torino), Mancini (Roma), Calafiori (Bologna), Di Lorenzo (Napoli), Bellanova (Torino), Dimarco (Inter ), Cambiaso (Juventus)
• Midfielder: Barella (Inter), Frattesi (Inter), Cristante (Roma), Pellegrini (Roma), Fagioli (Juventus), Jorginho (Arsenal), Ricci (Torino), Folorunsho (Hellas Verona)
• Attackers: Chiesa (Juventus), Raspadori (Napoli), Retegui (Genoa), Scamacca (Atalanta), Orsolini (Bologna), Zaccagni (Lazio), El Shaarawy (Roma)

Albania preliminary team

• Goalkeepers: Berisha (Empoli), Strakosha (Brentford), Kastrati (Cittadella), Simoni (Eintracht Frankfurt)
• Defenders: Gjimshiti (Atalanta), Hysaj (Lazio), Balliu (Rayo Vallecano), Ismajli (Empoli), Ajeti (CFR Cluj), Aliji (Voluntari), Mitaj (Lokomotiv Moscow), Mihaj (Famalicao), Kumbulla (Sassuolo)
• Midfielder: Abrashi (Grasshoppers), Asllani (Inter Milan), Bajrami (Sassuolo), Berisha (Lecce), Gjasula (Darmstadt 98), Laçi (Sparta Prague), Muçi (Beşiktaş), Ramadani (Lecce)
• Attackers: Asani (Gwangju FC), Broja (Chelsea), Daku (Rubin Kazan), Hoxha (Dinamo Zagreb), Manaj (Sivasspor), Seferi (Baniyas)

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Italy vs Albania: players to watch

Federico Chiesa

Italy’s main problems this summer are in attack, with Gianluca Scamacca having scored just one goal in 15 appearances for his country.

The Azzurri will therefore desperately need Chiesa to return to his form from Euro 2020 where he lit up the tournament.

The Juventus star scored twice, completed the second most dribbles behind England’s Raheem Sterling and slowly realized his potential by becoming one of the best wingers in Europe.

A slow return to fitness and fitness following a horrific ACL injury in 2022 has slowed Chiesa’s progress.

However, the 26-year-old has scored nine goals in Serie A this season – his best return since his double-figure haul for Fiorentina in 19/20 – and could be ready for a big tournament for Italy.

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Armando Broja

The 22-year-old will be desperate to impress in his first major tournament with the pressure from his country on his shoulders.

Like Chiesa, Broja’s development has been disrupted by an anterior cruciate ligament injury and he has scored just one Premier League goal in 13 appearances for Chelsea this season.

Having been deemed surplus to requirements, the striker was hoping to have secured some much-needed game time and rebuild his form at the Blues’ neighbors Fulham.

However, the sudden emergence of Rodrigo Muniz meant that Broja only played eight times for the Cottagers and failed to score.

Chelsea’s financial problems will mean that Broja is likely to be sold after Euro 2024 and the club’s academy graduate will need to showcase his performances to secure the best possible transfer.

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Italy vs Albania: what was said?

Spalletti admitted Italy were not favorites at Euro 2024 despite entering the tournament as reigning champions.

He told Sky Italia: “It’s the highest moment of my career.

“It’s like I’m living in paradise because I’m preparing the national team for the Euro.

“As I said before, I will try to do my best. I don’t know if that will be enough. We will have to clarify some things: we have strong footballers, so we need to make them a team, and if we achieve this, I am convinced that we will be able to play on par with teams who, at the moment, are at a higher level . .

“However, we have this period to work together. We have our history which is fundamental.