Albania 0-1 Spain
Spain made it three wins in three to finish top of Group B and, in the process, ended Albania’s European adventure.
Luis De La Fuente made wholesale changes to his team but they were still hot favourites here at SBOTOP, and when Ferran Torres slotted home an early goal the Spain boss’s decision was vindicated. It was an entertaining match and Albania pushed for a leveller in the late stages but La Roja held on for a relatively comfortable victory.
Spain were last European Champions in 2012, beating Italy 4-0 in the final, and they look to be in great shape as they move into the Euro 2024 knockout phase, while Albania will head back home having won plenty of admirers.
Highlights of the game
Albania have been fearless throughout the campaign and, as they belted out the national hymn before the match, manager Sylvinho’s looked a little misty eyed. He’s talked endlessly about his pride in this group of players and they started confidently, refusing to sit deep and swarming over Spain in the early exchanges. But they had to cope with some dangerous crosses from the 38-year-old Jesus Navas on the right flank and Joselu headed over when he should have hit the target.
Spain soaked up the early Albania pressure and then struck, with just 12 minutes on the clock. Dani Olmo surged forward and released Torres who fired low into the bottom left corner for his 20th goal in 44 internationals…not bad for a 24-year-old winger.
Navas continued to create havoc down the right, rolling back the years, and he almost made an assist for Olmo but his shot was charged down. Albania did well to keep the score down to 1-0 at the break, but they may even have levelled right on the brink of half time, when Kristjan Asllani found the space to unleash a shot which David Raya stretched to tip around the comer.
Joselu almost scored the goal of the tournament, at the start of the second half, when he met a cross from Alex Grimaldo and flicked a speculative volley inches wide of Thomas Strakosha’s right-hand post.
Spain were strolling around a little and we expected Albania to flick the switch and have a go at some stage. And they did. The mood changed when Sylvinho brought Chelsea striker Armando Broja on and he hit a scorching volley which Raya just tipped away to safety, and then Inter Milan man Asllani saw a snapshot deflected away for a corner, before fizzing another effort narrowly wide.
The game was end to end now, and man-of-the-match Olmo had a shot deflected away for a corner, the dead ball kick headed just over by Alvaro Morata.
Albania got into more promising positions but rarely tested Raya again, and when they were in attack it was all a bit hasty. Broja did bring a save out of the Spain keeper with a clever flick but that was the end of it. But they were playing one of the best teams in international football, certainly the form team at Euro 2024, and the brave Albanians leave with their heads held high.
Key statistics
The latest Euro 2024 betting odds have brought Spain into the leading group alongside France, Germany and England and, if they are to go all the way De La Fuente will need to be able to rely on his squad players when called upon. They put on a show in the first half, winning the shot count by nine to one and two to one on target.
With striker Mirlind Daku banned for joining in partisan chants by the Albanian fans in the aftermath of their draw with Croatia, the underdogs hoped to shift the focus to their play on the pitch and they did themselves proud in the second half, eventually having four shots on target to Spain’s three.
It was a sixth win in succession for La Roja and a ninth successive victory over Albania.
What’s next?
In tonight’s other Euro 2024 news Italy’s match with Croatia went right down to the wire as Mattia Zaccagni scored a dramatic 98th-minute equaliser after Luka Modric had given Croatia a second half lead.
That means Italy finish second in Group B and will face Switzerland on Saturday, while Spain still have to wait and see which third placed team they will meet in the Round of 16.
Croatia, with only two points, are unlikely to advance.
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