Italy, good first, but how many thrills against Albania

Dortmund - A good first, on an evening full of shivers and cold sweats that threatened to freeze us, under the puffs of the almost autumnal Westphalian wind. We beat Albania 2-1, and for a long time Spalletti saw the Italy he wanted, enterprising, strong-willed, prickly. A beautiful film from the editing of which we have to at least cut, for the first and the last scene, the one of the lead-lightning by Bajrami and the clamorous missed equaliser by Manaj (with a decisive contribution by Donnarumma) in full recovery. In between, as we were saying, there were many good things, even though we were unable to close out this blessed match, wasting too much due to a lack of cynicism, wickedness, that fury that is sometimes needed, and will still be needed. So, let's collect the three points, while waiting for Spain and Croatia to tell us not so much who we are (maybe we are just that, and it's not bad anyway), but above all where we can arrive.

Rossoneri invasion - Carousels, chants, flags, since late morning invading every alleyway in Dortmund, from the city centre to the junction leading to the Westfalen Stadion, soon in a state of tilt (also due to directions that were cryptic to say the least). Westfalen is the province of Tirana, at least tonight, in a ratio of one Azzurri fan for every ten Albanians, so much so that, if you want to joke about it, you have to regret the absence of Zaniolo, who gave Roma their first conference in history in Tirana. The impression one had when walking around the city is confirmed when raising one's eyes to the stands of this European architectural and footballing jewel, largely coloured red and with eagles ready to take flight as they circle the patches of blue also present, here and there.

Coldly hit - not even enough time to realise Spalletti's choices (in the end a four-man defence with Calafiori and Bastoni in central midfield) - Silvinho's Eagles took the lead: Di Marco was the same - a terrible one - seen in Empoli against Bosnia, but this time he made a mistake on a lateral foul, sending Sassuolo's fantasist Bajrami's diagonal right-footed shot past Donnarumma at the first post - after just 23 seconds (the fastest goal in European Championship history). A Tyson jab would have hurt less, but as happens to boxers stunned by the blow they have suffered, the nervous reaction is instinctive, immediate, but produces a second serious error, this time in the Albanian area: Chiesa immediately punched on the right, Scammacca's low cross was veiled for Lorenzo Pellegrini, who unbelievably shot wide a moving penalty from the edge of the area. The foundations of the Westfalen Stadion trembled under the impulse of the Rossoneri bedlam.

Cuore azzurro... nero - The Roma player made up for it on the tenth minute, when his right-footed shot embroidered the cross which Bastoni headed in under the goal for 1:1. Another five minutes passed and Barella's strike from the edge of the box was on target; the Inter player made no mistake and it was 2:1! It is no coincidence, one might say, that two pillars of Inter, champions of Italy, and also of Manfredi's triumphant Italy at Wembley, have brought out their charisma and coolness at the darkest moment. Drawn by the senators (Chiesa also did well), even the novices shook themselves, with Calafiori enterprising and Frattesi who kicked at the post on an assist from Scammacca for a possible 3-1. And perhaps it was for the best.

Final thrill - Just as it had begun, however, the evening threatened to come to an end. After a second half in total control, in the dying stages a deep throw caught former Inter man Manaj, who had only just come on for Broja, at the back of a distracted Calafiori. As luck would have it, on the number seven's underhand touch Donnarumma touched it out with his side just enough to send the ball into the bottom corner (without referee Zweiler awarding a corner). In short, a good first match, with a victory that takes us a good step forward towards the round of 16 (the first two of the days and also the four best thirds qualify), but in the background the final challenge of the group against Croatia (heavily downgraded by the 3-0 defeat by Spain, who we will face on 20 June in Gelsenkirchen) already looms as the new crossroads of our European path.