Italy will return to the United States in March to play two friendly matches against Venezuela and Ecuador, thirty years after they lost the World Cup final on penalties to Brazil and nearly 19 years after their encounter against Ecuador in June 2005. Two testing ahead to Euro 2024. The Azzurri will face Venezuela on Thursday, March 21 at the Drv PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, home of Inter Miami, and Ecuador on Sunday, March 24 at the Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey (tickets for both matches can be purchased on the www.ticketmaster.com website beginning Tuesday, February 6). The Azzurri made their first trip to the United States in 1976, when they were invited to the Bicentennial Cup. Italy, headed by Fulvio Bernardini and Enzo Bearzot, made an impressive debut (4-0) against the hosts before losing the next two games to England (2-0 to 2-3) and Brazil (1-4). The last precedent in the United States occurred in June 2005. Marcello Lippi's Italy drew 1-1 with Serbia Montenegro (goals from Zigic and Cristiano Lucarelli), the same result as the second test against Ecuador at East Rutherford (goals from Luca Toni and Ayovi). In the meantime, there's the 1994 World Cup. To date, the national team has played 16 matches in seven different states in the United States, winning seven, drawing six, and losing three.
|