Kick-off - Italy 2-1 Albania
46. There are no changes to report as Italy restart this Group B encounter in Dortmund.
The good news for the Azzurri is that they have managed to make it through the first 23 seconds of THIS half without conceding.
46. There are no changes to report as Italy restart this Group B encounter in Dortmund.
The good news for the Azzurri is that they have managed to make it through the first 23 seconds of THIS half without conceding.
And breathe.
What a ridiculous half of football. Albania ahead inside 23 seconds, and then under siege by the Italians.
At the BVB, goals from Bajrami, Bastoni and Barella ensure that the Azzurri lead 2-1 at the break.
45+2. Pellegrini whips a cross in between two defenders the right and finds Scamacca, soaring through the air...
...and heading wide.
It actually comes off the former West Ham man's shoulder, and will go down as a big chance.
45. The fourth official indicates three minutes of stoppage time at the end of the first half.
Albania will be happy to get in just the one goal behind.
43. Albania win a free-kick midway inside the Italy half, and their fans rise as one to await the situation.
Sylvinho's side go long with it, working it back to Asani 25 yards from goal.
The forward takes a touch inside to open up a shooting opportunity and unleashes a curler wide of Donnarumma's goal.
41. The nerds at Opta point out that the 16 goals scored in the opening four matches of Euro 2024 are the most netted at this point of a European Championship or World Cup since Euro '76 (19).
39. Strakosha comes to Albania's rescue again!
This time Pellegrini is the provider, playing in Scamacca with a quick and clever pass, only for the striker's drive to be blocked at the near post.
37. Albania started this game at high octane pace.
Not only did they score the quickest European Championship goal ever, they also recorded three shots in the opening seven minutes.
But that seems a long time ago now as they are half hour without an attempt at Donnarumma.
35. The Italians are playing keep ball now, and the possession stats are rising by the second.
Luciano Spalletti's men have now been responsible for 70% of the play, and it's beginning to silence the impressive Albanian support.
33. Davide Frattesi dinks over Thomas Strakosha...
...and on to the post!
Another lovely flick from Gianluca Scammaca sets the Inter man away, but he's unable to find the net at the near post.
In fact, replays show it's an excellent save from Strakosha, who turned the ball on to the woodwork with his fingertips.
32. Albania are camped inside their own defensive third, and seem intent in dropping into a back six whenever Italy pour forward.
It's inviting more and more pressure by the minute.
30. Pellegrini attempts an acrobatic bicycle kick following good work on the right, but succeeds only in skewing it into the nearest defender.
He probably could have just headed it, to be fair.
27. Finally the tempo is taken down a notch, and Italy are controlling the contest.
And not only are they dominating the ball, they are also working so hard out of possession, evidenced by the determination shown by Di Lorenzo to slide tackle out for a throw-in.
25. It's notable just how open the Italians are on the rare occasions that Albania gain possession and step on to the front foot.
Bonucci and Chiellini will be spinning in their...erm...retirement.
23. We've just gone past the midway point of the first half and there's barely been a chance to take a breath.
We've had ten shots at goal, an average of just under one every two minutes.
21. The first card of the contest is shown to Lorenzo Pellegrini.
The Roma midfielder is cautioned for chopping down Armando Broja as the striker threatened to tearaway down the left on the counter.
18. There was a short pause after that goal had been scored for a VAR check following the suggestion that Dimarco may have committed a foul in the build-up.
It was quickly dismissed by the video officials though.
16. Now Italy lead - and it had been coming!
Albania fail to deal with a ball bouncing around their penalty area, and when Jasir Asani steers a right wing cross straight to Nicolo Barella outside the penalty area, he returns it with interest.
Head down, the Inter Milan ace lets fly with a screamer that tears past a stranded Thomas Strakosha and almost rips the net.
It's Barella's 10th goal for his country, and each of the previous nine have been scored in eventual Azzurri victories.
13. I don't think many followers of these two countries in qualifying would have been expecting many goals this evening.
Well, we've had two already.
If it continues like this, it could end up 9-9 - which may well help my wife out in the prediction league at her work.
11. Italy were behind for just ten minutes!
Alessandro Bastoni escapes from his marker to meet Lorenzo Pellegrini's cross from the left at the far post, and powerfully heads back beyond Thomas Strakosha.
The Italians rush to the opposite corner to celebrate, scenes you suspect are fuelled more by relief than pride.
It's been a blistering beginning at the BVB Stadion.
9. Dimarco, up from the back and keen to make amends for his early mistake, has a shot blocked.
It eventually leads to Italy's first corner.
7. Albania pour forward again with Broja, and eventually win a corner when Bastoni heads behind under no pressure.
What was I saying about regaining composure?