By Anna Italia
Follow me on Twitter @ItalianSerieA,
Facebook: Anna Italia Page
Instagram: annaitalia2
Italian Soccer Serie A

51% Ball Possession ECUADOR and 49% Ball Possession ITALY

   Ecuador 0 – 2 Italy   

.                                                                     2′ Lorenzo Pellegrini
.                                                                  93′ Nicolò Barella

Italy won the friendly game against Ecuador on Sunday 24 March 2024 at the Red Bull Arena in New Jersey, USA. An early goal from Lorenzo Pellegrini and a goal at the end from Nicolò Barella, the Azzurri ended the American mini tour with another win. Italy got 2 victories in this tour in preparation for the next European Championship, the Azzurri, after the 2-1 success against Venezuela.

Italy will meet again in June for two more friendlies – against Turkey and Bosnia – before the start of the European Championship.

Italy with a fast start took the lead in the 2nd minute. Lorenzo Pellegrini defeated Ecuador goalkeeper Javier Burrai with a left-footed shot to the top right corner.

👉Ecuador 0 – 1 Italy, 2nd minute, ⚽️ goal by Lorenzo Pellegrini for @Azzurri_En with a left-footed shot to the top right corner. https://t.co/LDC7QLM7w4

— Anna Italia (@ItalianSerieA) March 24, 2024

Italy sealed the victory in the 93rd minute. Nicolò Barella scored with a right footed shot to the center. The assist is by Riccardo Orsolini.

👉🇪🇨 Ecuador 0 – 2 Italy 🇮🇹, 93rd minute, ⚽️ goal by Nicolò Barella for @Azzurri_En with a right footed shot to the center. The assist is by Riccardo Orsolini. https://t.co/BNiC76SFUG

— Anna Italia (@ItalianSerieA) March 24, 2024

✅ Stats before the game: This will be the third meeting in history between Italy and Ecuador, with the Azzurri unbeaten in the previous two: 1-1 in the most recent one played on 11 June 2005 (friendly) and 2-0 victory in the group stage match at the 2002 World Cup, thanks to Christian Vieri’s brace. Two of the only three matches between Ecuador and Italy were played in the United States; the friendly match in June 2005 was in fact staged at the Giants Stadium – now MetLife Stadium – in East Rutherford, just over 15 km away from the Red Bull Arena, the scene of today’s match between these two teams. Italy has won two of the last three friendlies played against South American opponents (L1), including the most recent last Thursday against Venezuela, after failing to win the first seven matches of this type in the 2000s (D3, L4 ). More specifically, the Azzurri could score two consecutive victories in non-competitive matches against these opponents for the first time since the period between 1980 and 1987. Ecuador’s last victory against a European team dates back to February 2013: 3-2 in a friendly match played in Guimaraes against Portugal. Since then for La Tricolor seven matches without success in the matches in question (D4, L3) but two draws in the last two, against France and Holland at the World Cup between 2014 and 2022.

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📺 Click the video to watch Ecuador 0 – 2 Italy highlights on Sunday 24 March 2024

Photo via twitter.com/azzurri_en

Ready to go out there! 🏃‍♂️#ECUITA #Azzurri #VivoAzzurro pic.twitter.com/pXDOU5EB05

— Italy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@Azzurri_En) March 24, 2024

Photo via twitter.com/azzurri_en

Photo via twitter.com/azzurri_en

Photo via twitter.com/azzurri_en

👉First half 🇪🇨 Ecuador 0 – 1 Italy 🇮🇹

⚽️ Goals: 2′ Lorenzo Pellegrini (I)

🟨 Booked: 38′ Jorginho (I)

✍ Ball Possession: 45% @Azzurri_En and 55% Ecuador

✅ https://t.co/onCkOlQghE@SerieASitdown @TheCalcioGuys @Vergara1899 https://t.co/ZY7vfcnzuh

— Anna Italia (@ItalianSerieA) March 24, 2024

Photo via twitter.com/azzurri_en

 International Friendly Game

Ecuador – Italy
Sunday 24 March 2024
Red Bull Arena
Harrison, New Jersey, USA

21:00

Goals: 2′ Lorenzo Pellegrini (I)

🟨 Booked:

Official lineups – formations – tabellino:

Lineup ECUADOR (3-4-3): Burrai – Torres, Pacho, Hincapie – Preciado, Moises Caicedo, Franco, Estupinan – Plata, Minda, Sarmiento.

Subs: Galindez, Dominguez, Arboleda, Cifuentes, Gruezo, Yeboah, Hurtado, Chala, Mena, Paez, Ortiz, Caicedo J., Realpe, Ordonez, Obando.

Coach:

👉🇮🇹 Lineup ITALY (3-4-2-1): Vicario,Darmian, Mancini, Bastoni, Bellanova, Barella, Jorginho, Dimarco – Zaniolo, Pellegrini, Raspadori.

Subs: Donnarumma, Carnesecchi, Di Lorenzo, Buongiorno, Scalvini, Cambiaso, Locatelli, Bonaventura, Frattesi, Zaccagni, Orsolini, Chiesa, Retegui.

Coach: Luciano Spalletti

By Anna Italia
Follow me on Twitter @ItalianSerieA,
Facebook: Anna Italia Page
Instagram: annaitalia2
Italian Soccer Serie A

67% Ball Possession ITALY and 33% Ball Possession VENEZUELA

   Italy  2- 1 Venezuela 

40′ Mateo Retegui              43′ Darwin Machís.
80′ MateoRetegui                 3′ ❌ Salomón Rondón (pen)

Italy face Venezuela for the first time in their history on Thursday 21 March 2024 at the Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale. Italy’s first game in nearly 19 years, after facing Ecuador in New York in 2005 in their most recent game in the United States. Italy preparing ahead of the UEFA Euro 2024. The Azzurri claimed this victory thanks to a brace by Mateo Retegui.

Good start with Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma saving a penalty shot in the 3rd minute. Salomón Rondón failed to convert the penalty conceded by Alessandro Buongiorno.

👉Italy 0 – 0 Venezuela, 3rd minute, ❌ Salomón Rondón failed to convert a penalty for @SeleVinotinto SAVED BY DONNARUMMAAAA in the bottom right corner. https://t.co/qWM0cwCRqX pic.twitter.com/miMA6BuXaW

— Anna Italia (@ItalianSerieA) March 21, 2024

Italy took the lead in the 40th minute. Mateo Retegui defeated Venezuela goalkeeper Rafael Romo with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner. The assist is by Andrea Cambiaso.

👉Italy 1 – 0 Venezuela, 40th minute, ⚽️ goal by Mateo Retegui for @Azzurri_En with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner. The assist is by Andrea Cambiaso. https://t.co/kP9EP3nOTV

— Anna Italia (@ItalianSerieA) March 21, 2024

Venezuela with a quick reaction equalized the game in the 43rd minute. Darwin Macis defeated goalkeeper Donnarumma with a left-footed shot to the center.

👉Italy 1 – 1 Venezuela, 43rd minute, ⚽️ goal by Darwin Machís equalized for @FVF_Oficial with a left footed shot to the center. https://t.co/qbULPu10l5

— Anna Italia (@ItalianSerieA) March 21, 2024

Italy took back the lead in the 80th minute.It is Mateo Retegui to score with a right-footed shot to the bottom right corner. The assist is by Jorginho.

👉🇮🇹 Italy 2 – 1 Venezuela🇻🇪, 80th minute, ⚽️ goal by Mateo Retegui for @Azzurri_En with a right-footed shot to the bottom right corner. The assist is by Jorginho. https://t.co/6VEuXAE5AE

— Anna Italia (@ItalianSerieA) March 21, 2024

✅  Stats before the game: This will be the first challenge in history between Italy and Venezuela. The Azzurri have won only one of their last 13 matches against South American national teams (D4, L8): 3-0 in a friendly against Uruguay, on 7 June 2017 in Nice. The Azzurri will return to play a match in the United States for the first time since 11 June 2005, in the 1-1 friendly draw against Ecuador in New York (East Rutherford) with Marcello Lippi as coach. This will also be Italy’s first match in Florida. Italy have remained unbeaten in nine of their last 10 friendlies (W7, D2), however losing the most recent one: 0-2 against Austria, on 20 November 2022 – the Azzurri have not recorded two friendly defeats in a row since the period between June and November 2015 (against Portugal and Belgium in that case). After the 0-0 draw against Ukraine in the last match of the European Championship qualifiers, Italy could draw two consecutive matches for the first time since November 2021 (in the World Cup qualifiers against Switzerland and Northern Ireland). The Azzurri could keep a clean sheet in two games in a row for the first time since September 2022 (in the Nations League against England and Hungary in that case).

Thank you Fort Lauderdale, Inter Miami and our #Azzurri faithful for such a special few days! 🇺🇸 👏 🫶 #VENITA #VivoAzzurro pic.twitter.com/JPmYTQQkLh

— Italy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@Azzurri_En) March 22, 2024

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📺 Click the video to watch Italy 2 – 1 Venezuela highlights on Thursday 21 March 2024

The lads are out 💪#VENITA #Azzurri #VivoAzzurro pic.twitter.com/DPCTZUvod4

— Italy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@Azzurri_En) March 21, 2024

Photo via twitter.com/azzurri_en

Photo via twitter.com/azzurri_en

Photo via twitter.com/azzurri_en

Photo via twitter.com/azzurri_en

Photo via twitter.com/SeleVinotinto

👉First half Italy 1 – 1 Venezuela

⚽️ Goals: 40′ Mateo Retegui (I), 43′ Darwin Machís (V)

❌3′ Salomón Rondón (pen)(V)

🟨 Booked: 0

✍ Ball Possession: 64% @Azzurri_En and 36% @SeleVinotinto

✅ https://t.co/HYDiDL1uUC@SerieASitdown @TheCalcioGuys https://t.co/YGQ7glgQzh

— Anna Italia (@ItalianSerieA) March 21, 2024

👉Result 🇮🇹 Italy 2 – 1 Venezuela🇻🇪

⚽️ Goals: 40′, 80′ Mateo Retegui (I), 43′ Darwin Machís (V)

❌3′ Salomón Rondón (pen)(V)

🟨 Booked: 0

✍ Ball Possession: 67% @Azzurri_En and 33% @SeleVinotinto

✅ https://t.co/HYDiDL22Ka@SerieASitdown @TheCalcioGuys https://t.co/ZwUG7gUD3A

— Anna Italia (@ItalianSerieA) March 21, 2024

Photo via twitter.com/azzurri_en

 International Friendly Game

Italy 2 – 1 Venezuela
Thursday 21 March 2024
San Siro Stadium
Milan, Italy

20:45

Goals:

🟨 Booked:

Official lineups – formations – tabellino:

👉🇮🇹 Lineup ITALIA (3-5-2):  Donnarumma – Di Lorenzo, Buongiorno, Scalvini – Cambiaso, Frattesi, Locatelli, Bonaventura, Udogie – Chiesa, Retegui.

Subs.: Vicario, Meret, Bellanova, Darmian, Mancini, Bastoni, Dimarco, Barella, Jorginho, Pellegrini, Folorunsho, Orsolini, Zaccagni, Zaniolo, Raspadori.

Coach: Luciano Spalletti

👉 Lineup VENEZUELA (4-2-3-1): Romo – Ferraresi, Angel, Osorio, Navarro – Aramburu, Martinez – Machis, Casseres, Savarino – Rondon.

Subs.: Graterol, Contreras, Andrade, Cadiz, Castillo, Gonzalez, Makoun, Murillo, Pena, Pereira, Rincon, Rivas, Romulo, Segovia, Cordova.

By Anna Italia
Follow me on Twitter @ItalianSerieA,
Facebook: Anna Italia Page
Instagram: annaitalia2
Italian Soccer Serie A supports the Italian National team

           Austria – Italy   

🏆👉   Here are Austria vs Italy official starting lineups for the International Friendly game on Sunday 20 November 2022 at the Ernst Happel Stadion in Vienna, Austria at 20:45.

👉 Lineup Austria (4-2-3-1) : – Lindner; Posch, Lienhart, Alaba, Wöber; Seiwald, X.Schlager; Baumgartner, Sabitzer, Adamu; Arnautovic.

Subs: A.Schlager, Hedl; Gregoritsch, Grillitsch, Mwene, Schmid, Cham, Kainz.

Coach: Ralf Rangnick

👉🇮🇹  Lineup Italia (3-4-3) : Donnarumma; Gatti, Bonucci, Acerbi; Di Lorenzo, Barella, Verratti, Dimarco; Politano, Raspadori, Grifo

Subs: Meret, Vicario, Provedel, Scalvini, Bastoni, Parisi, Miretti, Pessina, Ricci, Gnonto, Zaniolo, Pinamonti, Chiesa, Pafundi

Coach: Roberto Mancini

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Photo via twitter.com/oefb1904

Photo via twitter.com/Azzurri_En

Photo via twitter.com/Azzurri_En

Photo via twitter.com/Azzurri_En

Photo via twitter.com/Azzurri_En

International Friendly Game

Austria – Italy
Sunday 20  November 2022
Stadium
Vienna, Austria

20:45

Referee: Christian Dingert (GER)
Assistants:  Christian Gittelmann (GER) – Mark Borsch (GER)
Fourth Official: Florian Badstübner (GER)

By Anna Italia
Follow me on Twitter @ItalianSerieA,
Facebook: Anna Italia Page
Instagram: annaitalia2
Italian Soccer Serie A supports the Italian National team

34% Ball Possession ALBANIA and 66% Ball Possession ITALY

            Albania 1 – 3 Italy   
16′ Ardian Ismajli                            20′ Giovanni Di Lorenzo
.                                                                        25′ Vincenzo Grifo
.                                                                       64′ Vincenzo Grifo

🏆👉   Italy defeated Albania in the International Friendly game on Wednesday 16 November 2022 at the Air Albanian Stadium in Tirana, Albania. The Azzurri made a comeback to claim this victory with Vincenzo Grifo’s brace and Giovanni Di Lorenzo’s goal. The good news is the debut with the national team of Fagioli, Pinamonti and Pafundi (born in 2006), the return of Federico Chiesa: everything is there in Italy’s 3-1 to Albania.   Albania took the lead with  Ismajli, defender of Empoli.   The only negative note is Sandro Tonali’s injury: the Milan midfielder went out on a stretcher after a very bad fall, he hit his shoulder, neck, and head hard, but, reportedly, he’s fine.

Italy and Albania have previously met on only three occasions, all of them in recent times. The first game was back in 2014 in a friendly in Genova that the Azzurri won 1-0, before two clashes in the 2018 World Cup qualification stage, with Italy winning both games in Palermo and Scutari (it was the 800th game for Italy at all levels).

In the dugout for Albania is Head Coach Edy Reja, the fourth Italian with the Albanian team in four meetings (two times with De Biasi, one Panucci).

Albania opened the score in the 16th minute. Ardian Ismajli defeated Italy goalkeeper Alex Meret with a headed shot to the top right corner. The assist is by Nedim Bajrami.

👉Albania 1 – 0 Italy, 16th minute, ⚽️ goal by Ardian Ismajli for Albania with a headed shot to the top right corner. The assist is by Nedim Bajrami. https://t.co/Qv0QzIX0pB pic.twitter.com/74WiPPgdt7

— Anna Italia (@ItalianSerieA) November 16, 2022

Italy equalized for the 1-1 in the 20th minute. Giovanni Di Lorenzo defeated Albania goalkeeper Berisha from very close range with a right-footed shot to the top left corner. The assist is by Vincenzo Grifo.

👉Albania 1 – 1 Italy, 20th minute, ⚽️ goal by Giovanni Di Lorenzo equalized for @Azzurri_En from very close range with a right-footed shot to the top left corner. The assist is by Vincenzo Grifo. https://t.co/4uimQuVCXl

— Anna Italia (@ItalianSerieA) November 16, 2022

Italy overturned the result. In the 25th minute, Vincenzo Grifo scored with a right-footed shot to the bottom right corner. The assist is by Giacomo Raspadori.

👉 Albania 1 – 2 Italy, 25th minute, ⚽️ goal by Vincenzo Grifo for @Azzurri_En with a right-footed shot to the bottom right corner. The assist is by Giacomo Raspadori https://t.co/04EnyYZB91

— Anna Italia (@ItalianSerieA) November 16, 2022

Giacomo Raspadori and Vincenzo Grifo

Italy having a good time. In the 64th minute, a brace, the goal again by Vincenzo Grifo with a right-footed shot to the top right corner.

👉 Albania 1 – 3 Italy, 64th minute, ⚽️ goal by Vincenzo Grifo for @Azzurri_En with a right-footed shot to the top right corner. A BRACEEEEEE https://t.co/e9eJ2mVvSr

— Anna Italia (@ItalianSerieA) November 16, 2022

#Meret with the save from Skuka’s overhead kick. What a good game he’s had 💪#ALBITA 🇦🇱 1-3 🇮🇹 (88′)#Azzurri #VivoAzzurro pic.twitter.com/fkydqzkem9

— Italy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@Azzurri_En) November 16, 2022

✅ Stats before the game: In total, there have been 17 games between Italy and an Italian Head Coach on the opposing side (Trappatoni four times, the only one to beat us, and Ghedin), with 14 wins for the Azzurri, two draws and a defeat. In Italy’s first-ever visit to Albania in 2017, they won 1-0 in Scutari, as the Air Albania Stadium was being re-constructed at the time; it will be the first time they will have played in Tirana.

👉 Lineup ALBANIA (3-4-2-1): Berisha; Ismajli, Kumbulla, Mihaj; Hysaj, Abrashi, Bare, Lenjani; Bajrami, Uzuni; Broja.

👉🇮🇹  Lineup ITALIA (3-4-3): Meret; Scalvini, Bonucci, Bastoni; Di Lorenzo, Tonali, Verratti, Dimarco; Zaniolo, Raspadori, Grifo.

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Click the video to watch Albania 1 – 3 Italy highlights including all goals on Wednesday 16 November 2022

Photo via twitter.com/Azzurri_En

Photo via twitter.com/Azzurri_En

Photo via twitter.com/Azzurri_En

Photo via twitter.com/Azzurri_En

👉First half is over. Albania 1 – 2 Italy

⚽️ Goals: 16′ Ardian Ismajli (A), 20′ Giovanni Di Lorenzo (I), 25′ Vincenzo Grifo (I)

Corners: Albania 2, Italy 1

✍ Ball Possession: 32% Albania and 68% @Azzurri_En

✅ https://t.co/0kTsu2xM8q
@TheCalcioGuys @SerieASitdown @socios https://t.co/PgnTbzmZG2

— Anna Italia (@ItalianSerieA) November 16, 2022

👉Result Albania 1 – 3 Italy

⚽️ Goals: 16′ Ardian Ismajli (A), 20′ Giovanni Di Lorenzo (I), 25′, 64′ Vincenzo Grifo (I)

✍ Ball Possession: 34% Albania and 66% @Azzurri_En

✅ https://t.co/0kTsu2xM8q
@TheCalcioGuys @SerieASitdown @socios @SociosItalia @SerieA_EN https://t.co/lQQShRyRUD

— Anna Italia (@ItalianSerieA) November 16, 2022

Photo via twitter.com/Azzurri_En

International Friendly Game

Albania 1 – 3 Italy
Wednesday 16 November 2022
Air Albanian Stadium
Tirana, Albania

20:45

Referee: Genc Nuza (KOS)
Assistant referees: Fatlum Berisha (KOS) and Bujar Selimaj (KOS)
Fourth official: Juxhin Xhaja (ALB)

Goals: 16′ Ardian Ismajli (A), 20′ Giovanni Di Lorenzo (I), 25′, 64′  Vincenzo Grifo (I)

Official lineups – formations – tabellino:

👉 Lineup ALBANIA (3-4-2-1): Berisha; Ismajli, Kumbulla, Mihaj; Hysaj, Abrashi, Bare, Lenjani; Bajrami, Uzuni; Broja.

Subs: Selmani, Kastrati, Gurishta, A.Bajrami, Bitri, Hadroj, Asllani, Laci, Ramadani, Mucolli, Cokaj, Roshi, Muci, Cara, Skuka.

Head Coach: Edy Reja.

👉🇮🇹  Lineup ITALIA (3-4-3): Meret; Scalvini, Bonucci, Bastoni; Di Lorenzo, Tonali, Verratti, Dimarco; Zaniolo, Raspadori, Grifo.

Subs:  Donnarumma, Vicario, Mazzocchi, Gatti, Acerbi, Ricci, Barella, Pessina, Fagioli, Miretti, Pinamonti, Gnonto, Chiesa, Politano, Pafundi.

Head Coach: Roberto Mancini