Holders Italy battled back for a hard-earned opening victory after Albania scored the fastest goal in a European Championship match. Nedim Bajrami made history after just 23 seconds when he thrashed a strike into the top right corner but Albania’s jubilation was not long-lasting with Alessandro Bastoni and Nicolo Barella firing Italy to victory.
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Euro 2024 is almost here and Group B is a real group of death as it features three of the continent’s best teams. The defending champions Italy find themselves drawn alongside a resurgent Spain perennial contenders Croatia and the ultimate underdogs Albania.
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Napoli have appointed Antonio Conte as manager, the Serie A club announced on Wednesday, with the Italian signing a contract until 2027. Conte will be coming back from a one-year break following his departure from the position of head coach at Tottenham. He will take charge of a Napoli team that endured a lacklustre season, finishing in 10th place as they sought to defend their title as champions of the 2022-23 season.
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Ayoub El Kaabi struck four minutes from the end of extra time as Olympiakos beat Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League final to become the first Greek side to win a European trophy. The Moroccan striker, hero of Olympiakos’ run to the final, stooped low to head in Santiago Hezze’s cross and spark pandemonium in the AEK Arena in Athens. A lengthy video assistant referee check confirmed El Kaabi’s 11th goal of the competition and their place in Greek footballing history.
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Ademola Lookman scored a sensational hat-trick as Atalanta ended a 61-year trophy drought while devastating Bayer Leverkusen’s dream of an unbeaten season in the Europa League final at a boisterous Aviva Stadium. Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen had not lost in 51 games this season and were only two matches from perfection. But former Charlton Athletic winger Lookman had other ideas scoring a superb hat-trick for La Dea.
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