European football champions Italy, who did not qualify for the World Cup in Qatar, celebrated a win in the penultimate friendly of the year thanks to a brace from Freiburg’s Vincenzo Grifo. The Squadra Azzurra won 3-1 (2-1) against Albania in Tirana.
Giovanni Di Lorenzo (20′) and Grifo (25’/64′) scored for Italy with his third and fourth goals in seven internationals. Ardian Ismajli (16th) had given Albania the lead.
In their last international match of the year on Sunday (8:45 p.m.) in Vienna’s Ernst Happel Stadium, Italy will face Austria, who have also not qualified for the World Cup.