EURO 2024
What is the quickest goal in the history of the European Championship?
Türkiye’s Demiral came close to breaking the all-time fastest scoring record with an early strike against Austria.
Albania’s Nedim Bajrami scored the fastest goal in the history of the European Championship, but his early strike wasn’t enough to stop Sylvinho’s men from losing to Italy in their Group B opener in the tournament.
While Demiral’s 56-second strike in Austria - Türkiye was certainly a whizzbang in the face of the shocked fans, Bajrami’s effort that flew past Italian keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma with just 23 seconds on the clock smashed the record for the Euros’ quickest goal.
The Turk, however, does now come second in the all-time fastest goals.
What was the European Championship record?
According to UEFA, Russia’s Dmitri Kirichenko scored the tournament finals’ previous fastest goal, netting against Greece after 67 seconds in a group-stage clash at Euro 2004.
The Euros' five fastest goals
- 23 seconds - Nedim Bajrami, for Albania vs Italy, Euro 2024
- 56 seconds - Merih Demiral, for Türkiye vs Austria, Euro 2024
- 67 seconds - Dmitri Kirichenko, for Russia vs Greece, Euro 2004
- 82 seconds - Emil Forsberg, for Sweden vs Poland, Euro 2020
- 99 seconds - Yussuf Poulsen, for Denmark vs Belgium, Euro 2020
- 100 seconds - Robert Lewandowski, for Poland vs Portugal, Euro 2016
Source: UEFA.com
Italy hit rapid-fire double to take the points
Italy quickly recovered from Bajrami’s record-breaking goal, however, turning the scoreboard on its head within a quarter of an hour.
The defending champions levelled after 10 minutes through a header by defender Alessandro Bastoni, before midfielder Nicolò Barella scored what proved to be the winner five minutes later. Pouncing on a wayward clearance on the edge of the penalty box, Barella drove a powerful shot into the bottom corner to put Luciano Spalletti’s side 2-1 up.
Italy win follows superb Spain start
Italy and Albania were meeting in the second Group B game of the day, after Spain opened up their bid for a fourth continental crown with a 3-0 victory over Croatia in Berlin.
Álvaro Morata, Fabián Ruiz and Dani Carvajal scored for the Spaniards, before Croatia’s Bruno Petkovic missed a late penalty. Having had his spot-kick parried by Spain keeper Unai Simón, Petkovic turned the loose ball into the net from Ivan Perisic’s pass, but the consolation goal was disallowed due to encroachment by Croatia players.