Nedim Bajrami scores fastest goal in Euro HISTORY to give Albania the lead over reigning champions Italy after just 23 SECONDS

• Bajrami put Albania ahead against Italy after 23 seconds to set a record
• However, Italy quickly took the lead after Bastoni and Barella scored.
• LISTEN It all begins! “I wouldn’t touch Nagelsmann with a barge pole!”

Nedim Bajrami scored the fastest goal in Euro history to give Albania a 1-0 lead over reigning champions Italy.

The striker fired a shot into the roof of the net at the near post after 23 seconds to leave Italy reeling in Dortmund.

Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was helpless in the face of such a venomous strike and could only watch as Bajrami walked away to celebrate in front of a sea of ​​red.

However, Albania’s lead lasted just 10 minutes as defender Alessandro Bastoni rose above the crowd to head the equalizer, redeeming himself from an error that led to Albania’s goal. Bajrami.

And soon Gli Azzurri took the lead when Nicolo Barella fired a first volley from the edge of the area after 17 minutes.

The previous fastest goal in Euro history was scored after 67 seconds when Dmitri Kirichenko gave Russia the lead against eventual champions Greece in 2004.

Bajrami had taken advantage of a botched start from the opposition in blue.

Bastoni hesitated after Federico Dimarco sent the ball back into the box and Bajrami grabbed the ball before unleashing a powerful strike.

The historic goal marks Bajrami’s sixth in his 25th appearance for the nation.

Albania is considered the weakest team in the group of death, consisting of itself, Italy, Spain and Croatia.

Earlier in the day, Spain beat Croatia 3-0 thanks to goals from Alvaro Morata, Fabian Ruiz and Dani Carvajal.

Albania topped a tough qualifying group of Czechia, Poland, Moldova and the Faroe Islands to reach Euro 2024, losing just once.

This is only their second participation in the European Championship.

They qualified for the 2016 edition but were eliminated in the group stage after losing to Switzerland and France but beating Romania.

Albania will next face Croatia and Spain.