[EURO 2024 FINALS] Italy vs Albania - 15/06/2024 - 21:00

[Princ]

Broja tried to link up with Asani a couple times but Asani would just dead the attack and pass it backwards. So frustrating..

I know Sylvinho wants a left foot on the right flank but Asani just ain’t it anymore. Muci is too good a player to ride the bench all game. Need to see way more of him!

[Aurora Bulkualis]

I think people are asking way too much of this team... We need to press more + sub out some guys like Seferi and Hysaj. But other than that, the fact that we kept the scoreline 2-1 until the end against the defending champs and Manaj almost equalized at the end, was as far as we could take it.

If you take a look at some stats like we've never beaten Italy at any level, Italy hasn't lost a EURO opener in last 3-4 editions, they're the defending champs, Spalletti has only lost 1 game so far, etc... it becomes clear they're just on a whole different tier. We're proud that we have some benchwarmers in Serie A, while they have the top picks of their whole league.

All that's important is that we're forming a core of young players that will serve us for the next decade. Mentality and handling pressure will come with more exposure and experience.

[Shpati]

I have to agree with AB.

But it's still a tough loss to swallow. Because lot of the negatives of this game were addressable:

(1) We still showed Italy WAY TOO much respect. We know they are the better team, but you still have to press. We hardly challenged anything

(2) Our Vice Captain ducked to avoid a shot. This isn't national team material and definitely not something you would expect a vice captain would do. I don't care where the ball is going to hit you or if it's coming at you 200 MPH, you always block a shot if you can. That's football 101.

Hysaj needs to be benched ASAP. He always was too passive and lacked any kind of passion.

We fix these 2 things, and I think we walk away with 1 point.

[Dallku]

I think people are asking way too much of this team... We need to press more + sub out some guys like Seferi and Hysaj. But other than that, the fact that we kept the scoreline 2-1 until the end against the defending champs and Manaj almost equalized at the end, was as far as we could take it.

If you take a look at some stats like we've never beaten Italy at any level, Italy hasn't lost a EURO opener in last 3-4 editions, they're the defending champs, Spalletti has only lost 1 game so far, etc... it becomes clear they're just on a whole different tier. We're proud that we have some benchwarmers in Serie A, while they have the top picks of their whole league.

All that's important is that we're forming a core of young players that will serve us for the next decade. Mentality and handling pressure will come with more exposure and experience.

Albania played 10x better against hosts France in 2016 than Italy with a much weaker team. Really wouldn't mind if they lost 3-0 as long as they showed some bravery. Even the English commentator was getting pissed at how cowardly Albania was playing. They were protecting Italy's lead for them that's why Italy didn't even bother to attack for more goals.

It's about making a positive impression to the world that you belong to be there. Nobody expects or cares about beating Italy. At least make them sweat a little.

I guarantee you that even Kosovo if they played instead would make a more positive impression. You are playing with house money and have no pressure.

[Redijupison]

I have to agree with AB.

But it's still a tough loss to swallow. Because lot of the negatives of this game were addressable:

(1) We still showed Italy WAY TOO much respect. We know they are the better team, but you still have to press. We hardly challenged anything

(2) Our Vice Captain ducked to avoid a shot. This isn't national team material and definitely not something you would expect a vice captain would do. I don't care where the ball is going to hit you or if it's coming at you 200 MPH, you always block a shot if you can. That's football 101.

Hysaj needs to be benched ASAP. He always was too passive and lacked any kind of passion.

We fix these 2 things, and I think we walk away with 1 point.

Hysaj dodged on Pellegrini's cross that led to the first goal too !

[ZenMaster]

I couldn't care less if we lose 3:0 or even 5:0,it can happen against strong team as Italy, what's is unforgivable the way we played against Italy, we had 50k fans on stands and our players played as pussies. Seferi and Asani were negative whole game, playing back passes but Broja was worst of all, laziest player ever and lost all duels with Calafiori. We will lose anyway so play some guys who have balls, start Abrashi, Gjasula, Laci, Daku.

[Aurora Bulkualis]

I think people are asking way too much of this team... We need to press more + sub out some guys like Seferi and Hysaj. But other than that, the fact that we kept the scoreline 2-1 until the end against the defending champs and Manaj almost equalized at the end, was as far as we could take it.

If you take a look at some stats like we've never beaten Italy at any level, Italy hasn't lost a EURO opener in last 3-4 editions, they're the defending champs, Spalletti has only lost 1 game so far, etc... it becomes clear they're just on a whole different tier. We're proud that we have some benchwarmers in Serie A, while they have the top picks of their whole league.

All that's important is that we're forming a core of young players that will serve us for the next decade. Mentality and handling pressure will come with more exposure and experience.

Albania played 10x better against hosts France in 2016 than Italy with a much weaker team. Really wouldn't mind if they lost 3-0 as long as they showed some bravery. Even the English commentator was getting pissed at how cowardly Albania was playing. They were protecting Italy's lead for them that's why Italy didn't even bother to attack for more goals.

It's about making a positive impression to the world that you belong to be there. Nobody expects or cares about beating Italy. At least make them sweat a little.

I guarantee you that even Kosovo if they played instead would make a more positive impression. You are playing with house money and have no pressure.

Let's not get too nostalgic. Albania just defended for 90 mins vs France DB style and ate 2 at the end.

Plus the early goal added pressure. They had something to lose at that point.

[Dallku]

Let's not get too nostalgic. Albania just defended for 90 mins vs France DB style and ate 2 at the end.

Plus the early goal added pressure. They had something to lose at that point.

France literally won in the 90th minute. Before that Albania had chances to win it with Lenjani and others. DB style or not you made them sweat and earn respect.

Italy finished this game after 16 minutes....

The more I watch other matches the more I realize what a pathetic team Albania is. Slovakia is currently playing Belgium off the field, the worst rated team Romania destroyed the dream team of Ukraine, etc..

Albanian players are the only ones who went there to take photos to put it on their instagram. Reminds me of the time North Korea qualified for that one world cup.

[Aurora Bulkualis]

Let's not get too nostalgic. Albania just defended for 90 mins vs France DB style and ate 2 at the end.

Plus the early goal added pressure. They had something to lose at that point.

France literally won in the 90th minute. Before that Albania had chances to win it with Lenjani and others. DB style or not you made them sweat and earn respect.

Italy finished this game after 16 minutes....

The more I watch other matches the more I realize what a pathetic team Albania is. Slovakia is currently playing Belgium off the field, the worst rated team Romania destroyed the dream team of Ukraine, etc..

Albanian players are the only ones who went there to take photos to put it on their instagram. Reminds me of the time North Korea qualified for that one world cup.

We're facing teams who are worth 7-9 times than us. Sylvinho has been here for 1 year and he just got Broja. We have the toughest group.

Since you like odds so much, Albania had a 7 coefficient with Italy, while Italy was like 1.2 or something Let's keep expectations in check.

[Dallku]

We're facing teams who are worth 7-9 times than us. Sylvinho has been here for 1 year and he just got Broja. We have the toughest group.

Since you like odds so much, Albania had a 7 coefficient with Italy, while Italy was like 1.2 or something Let's keep expectations in check.

Italy was only -250 to win. Handicap being only -1.25. That's honestly not that bad. For context Belgium was -200 against Slovakia today and Slovakia won.

Spain is nearly double the favorite as Italy, -400 to beat Albania. Now that's when they expect a massacre.