Italy has recovered from conceding the quickest goal in European Championship history after just 23 seconds to open its title defense with a 2-1 win over Albania.

The latest international break is proving costly for European clubs like Spanish powerhouses Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Italy's transformation from a team that failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup into an attack-minded juggernaut can be traced back to Serie A teams like Atalanta and Sassuolo.