Statements from Sylvinho, Albania's coach, at the end of the Italy-Albania match (2-1), in the first round of Group B of the 2024 European Football Championship.
"We started the game well, with an early goal. The team was very excited after the first goal, but we should have played better, especially in the first half. In the second half, we managed better and had opportunities to score and equalize through Manaj's chance [in the 90th minute]," said Sylvinho, the coach of the Albanian national team, reflecting on their performance in the first match of Group B of the 2024 European Football Championship against Italy.
Albania took an early lead, which boosted the team's morale, but they struggled to maintain their performance level throughout the first half. Italy capitalized on this, turning the game in their favor. Despite the challenges, Albania showed resilience in the second half, creating several scoring opportunities and demonstrating improved control and strategy.
One of the most notable moments came in the 90th minute when Rey Manaj had a clear chance to equalize, but unfortunately, it didn't materialize into a goal. Sylvinho emphasized the importance of learning from this match and acknowledged the team's efforts and potential to improve in the upcoming games.
He added, "We need to focus on maintaining our performance throughout the entire match and capitalize on the opportunities we create. The team showed great spirit, and we will build on this experience to perform better in the next games."
Looking ahead, Albania will need to address the inconsistencies displayed in this match to enhance their prospects in the tournament. Fans and analysts will be keenly watching how Sylvinho and his squad adapt and grow from this challenging start as they aim to advance in the European Championship.
