Reigning European champions Italy started their title defense with a 2-1 victory against Albania in their Euro 2024 Group B opener on Saturday.
Albania's Nedim Bajrami shocked Italy with the fastest goal ever scored at a European Championship when Nedim Bajrami blasted home after 23 seconds.
However, Italy won the macth with goals by Bastoni and Barella in the next 16 minutes.
Italy became European champions as hosts in 1968, the first European Championship they qualified for, and finished as runners-up in 2000 and 2012, before winning their second continental championship at Euro 2020.
Albania have qualified twice for the UEFA European Championship — in 2016 and 2024.