Italy vs. Ecuador: How to watch international friendly, live stream

Italy will conclude a two-game tour of the U.S. with a match at Red Bull Arena

Italy will conclude a two-game tour of the United States on Sunday with a match against Ecuador at Red Bull Arena.

The Azzurri defeated Venezuela 2-1 on Thursday in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, and will now face another South American opponent to close out its first visit to the U.S. in 19 years.

Genoa striker Mateo Retegui scored both goals for Italy in the friendly, as he aims to clinch a spot on the roster for Euro 2024 this summer.

[afflinkbutton text=”Watch Italy vs. Ecuador on Fanatiz” link=”https://fanatiz.jbbfvx.net/vNK3jW”]

Ecuador is also playing two games in the U.S., having defeated Guatemala on Thursday in a friendly also at Red Bull Arena.

La Tri are continuing preparations for this summer’s Copa América, where they will face Venezuela, Jamaica and Mexico in group play.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the match.

Italy vs. Ecuador (international friendly)

  • When: Sunday, March 24
  • Where: Red Bull Arena (Harrison, NJ)
  • Time: 4 p.m. ET
  • Channel/streaming: Fanatiz (Watch LIVE)

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2023 Ryder Cup in Italy sets TV viewership record

It was a record-breaking week near Rome.

More than 270,000 people from 100 different countries attended the 2023 Ryder Cup to watch the Europeans defeat the Americans, 16½-11½, and reclaim the cup at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club near Rome, Italy.

Even more watched from home.

On Tuesday, Ryder Cup Europe shared early numbers that showed a rise in average viewership on Sky Sports, particularly in the United Kingdom, which saw a 38 percent increase compared to the 2021 Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits and a 25 percent increase from the last European-hosted Cup in 2018 at Le Golf National near Paris.

“The 2023 Ryder Cup in Italy once again underlined the global appeal and continued growth of one of the world’s leading sporting events,” said Guy Kinnings, Executive Director of the Ryder Cup. “This year’s contest, played against the backdrop of the historic city of Rome, truly connected with fans around the world, and our early figures show significant increases in engagement even from the recent record-breaking editions.”

While the 2023 edition was the most watched Ryder Cup ever on Sky Sports, the NBC Sports coverage in the United States left fans wanting more.

Not even two hours into the coverage of the Friday foursomes matches and television viewers who were awake at 1 a.m. ET for the start were already fed up with the coverage (or lack thereof).

Airing on USA Network, the broadcast missed the introductions and tee shots from the third match of Shane Lowry and Sepp Straka vs. Rickie Fowler and Collin Morikawa and showed more commercials than golf shots. This year’s broadcast featured a score bug in the bottom right of the screen that showed the matches and live results, which was a nice innovation, except when the coverage didn’t provide context for how those scores came to be.

The 2025 Ryder Cup, the 45th playing of the biennial bash between the U.S. and Europe, will be held at Bethpage Black in New York.

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Ryder Cup first hole hospitality stand goes up in massive flames just days after event ends near Rome

Ryder Cup Europe confirmed that no injures were reported.

A structure at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club near Rome, Italy, went up in massive flames on Thursday just days after the club hosted the 2023 Ryder Cup.

A video surfaced on social media of a three-story hospitality stand engulfed in fire, producing large black smoke clouds that could be seen from miles away. Local news stated that five teams of firefighters are on the scene and that no injuries were reported. A notice was sent to local residents to close their windows.

“A fire was reported in one of the temporary hospitality structures to the right of the first fairway at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club earlier this afternoon,” a statement from Ryder Cup Europe read. “Local fire crews were called to the scene at 5:07 p.m. local time and quickly brought the blaze under control. Nobody was injured in the incident and the fire did not spread beyond the hospitality structure. There was no damage to the golf course or any over structure. The cause of the fire is currently being investigated.”

Hundreds of thousands of fans were at the club over the last week to witness Team Europe defeat Team USA and reclaim the Ryder Cup, 16½-11½.

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Rome originally was designed by David Mezzacane and Jim Fazio and opened in 1989. The layout was completely renovated in 2018-2020 by a team of European Golf Design led by Dave Sampson in conjunction with Tom Fazio II, a leading American architect and the son of Jim Fazio – Tom Fazio worked for his dad on the original layout. The renovation included a complete rerouting of the hilly layout with the Ryder Cup in mind. With 155 feet of elevation change across the course, the holes were laid out to favor match play, with several drivable par 4s. Marco Simone is a public-access layout with tee times available on the course’s website.

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Patrick Cantlay marries Nikki Guidish day after 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome

Cantlay didn’t have anything to celebrate on Sunday, but he sure did on Monday.

Patrick Cantlay didn’t have anything to celebrate on Sunday in Italy after the United States lost the 2023 Ryder Cup to Europe, but he sure did come Monday.

Just a day after the 44th playing of the biennial bash between the Americans and Europeans, held this year at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club near Rome, Cantlay, 30, married Nikki Guidish 13 miles down the road at the St. Regis.

Guidish, a doctor of pharmacy, shared photos from the luxurious wedding on Tuesday on her Instagram page, writing “Yesterday was a dream” while she thanked her wedding planner, photographer and the staff at the venue. In attendance were the likes of Cantlay’s Ryder Cup teammate Justin Thomas, as well as LPGA player Jessica Korda.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cx7yC11uZBU/?hl=en

Cantlay’s week in Rome was marred by a controversy involving his decision to not wear a hat, which became the story of the week and even led to a dust-up on the 18th green Saturday night. Cantlay went 2-2-0 on the week in Rome and now has a 5-2-1 record in two Ryder Cup appearances for Team USA.

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Highlights from Team Europe’s epic 2023 Ryder Cup celebration in Italy

The Europeans sure know how to party.

“Rome wasn’t built in a day. But it was conquered in three.”

That was one of many posts on the Ryder Cup Europe social media accounts to celebrate the team’s 16½-11½ win over the United States in the 44th playing of the biennial bash, held this year at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club near Rome, Italy.

The team celebrations with the Cup in the hours and days that follow are always fun to see, and European captain Luke Donald foreshadowed what would be a fun night in his interview with Golf Channel’s Cara Banks just minutes after Europe secured the Cup.

“We always do it right in Europe, we do it right,” said Donald with a smile. “We’ll have a few drinks.”

Did they ever.

The chants started with “Two more years!” for the captain and transitioned to cheers of “Ole! Ole! Ole!” and songs of victory on the team bus. Check out the highlights from Team Europe’s epic Ryder Cup celebrations.

MORE: Changes afoot for USA | How each player fared | Future sites

How each American, European player fared at the 2023 Ryder Cup in Italy

Only one player earned four points this week and just one went home pointless.

The Europeans are back on top.

After a historic loss two years ago Team Europe dominated the 2023 Ryder Cup to reclaim the trophy with a 16½-11½ victory over the three days of play at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club near Rome in Italy.

Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy was the only player to score four points this week (4-1-0), while four players went unbeaten: Tyrrell Hatton (3-0-1), Viktor Hovland (3-0-1) Jon Rahm (2-0-2) and Robert MacIntyre (2-0-1).

Here’s a breakdown of how each player fared this week by session at the 2023 Ryder Cup in Italy.

MORE: Sunday singles results | Best shots

European player records

Player Overall (W-L-T) Singles (W-L-T) Foursomes (W-L-T) Fourball (W-L-T)
Rory McIlroy 4-1-0 1-0-0 2-0-0 1-1-0
Tyrrell Hatton 3-0-1 1-0-0 2-0-0 0-0-1
Viktor Hovland 3-0-1 1-0-0 2-0-0 0-1-1
Tommy Fleetwood 3-1-0 1-0-0 2-0-0 0-1-0
Jon Rahm 2-0-2 0-0-1 2-0-0 0-0-1
Robert MacIntyre 2-0-1 1-0-0 0-0-0 1-0-1
Ludvig Aberg 2-2-0 0-1-0 2-0-0 0-1-0
Shane Lowry 1-1-1 0-0-1 1-1-0 0-0-0
Justin Rose 1-1-1 0-1-0 0-0-0 1-0-1
Matt Fitzpatrick 1-2-0 0-1-0 0-0-0 1-1-0
Sepp Straka 1-2-0 0-1-0 1-1-0 0-0-0
Nicolai Hojgaard 0-2-1 0-1-0 0-0-0 0-1-1

American player records

Player Overall (W-L-T) Singles (W-L-T) Foursomes (W-L-T) Fourball (W-L-T)
Max Homa 3-1-1 1-0-0 1-1-0 1-0-1
Patrick Cantlay 2-2-0 1-0-0 0-2-0 1-0-0
Brian Harman 2-2-0 0-1-0 1-1-0 1-0-0
Justin Thomas 1-2-1 1-0-0 0-1-0 0-1-1
Wyndham Clark 1-1-1 0-1-0 0-0-0 1-0-1
Brooks Koepka 1-1-1 1-0-0 0-1-0 0-0-1
Sam Burns 1-2-0 0-1-0 0-1-0 1-0-0
Collin Morikawa 1-3-0 0-1-0 0-1-0 1-1-0
Xander Schauffele 1-3-0 1-0-0 0-2-0 0-1-0
Scottie Scheffler 0-2-2 0-0-1 0-2-0 0-0-1
Jordan Spieth 0-2-2 0-0-1 0-1-0 0-1-1
Rickie Fowler 0-2-0 0-1-0 0-1-0 0-0-0

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2023 Ryder Cup Saturday afternoon fourball pairings, tee times in Italy

Team Europe extended its lead on Saturday morning and will look to seemingly close out the Cup in the afternoon.

Team Europe is in the driver’s seat with the car in cruise control and the GPS set for the trophy presentation.

The hosts of the 2023 Ryder Cup hold a commanding 9½-2½ lead over the Americans entering Saturday afternoon’s fourballs session at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club near Rome in Italy. The Europeans claimed the morning foursomes session, 3-1, to extend their lead to a near insurmountable number.

The only player who won’t play today will be Rickie Fowler, whereas all 12 European players will see action as they look to put the competition out of reach.

Check out the four matches and pairings, as well as the eight players who will ride the pine pony for the second session of matches at the 2023 Ryder Cup.

MORE: How to watch the 2023 Ryder Cup

Scottie Scheffler brought to tears after historic loss alongside Brooks Koepka at 2023 Ryder Cup

It was an emotional and historic loss for the Americans on Saturday morning.

ROME —Playing not far from the Colosseum in Rome, Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg could’ve screamed to the faithful fans at the 11th green at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club, “Are you not entertained?”

They completed a beatdown for the ages at the 44th Ryder Cup. Hovland of Norway and Aberg of Sweden waxed the American duo of Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka, 9 and 7. It’s the worst loss in Ryder Cup history in any format.

“I don’t think we could have done a whole lot better,” Hovland said. “It’s nice to kind of speak our own language and we understand each other. Obviously same humour, same culture. (Ludvig’s) a stud. He doesn’t miss a shot, so it’s easy when I’m playing well and he’s playing well and we are just feeding off of each other.”

This was a combination of Euro brilliance and American ineptitude. The world No. 1 and reigning PGA Championship winner started double-bogey-double to fall 3 down after three holes. Then the Euros turned it up a notch, making four birdies in the first 10 holes to build an 8-up lead. They missed only one green and hit every fairway on the front nine. The Americans, by contrast, combined to shoot 7 over. Their misery lasted just 2 hours and 19 minutes and 11 holes at 4:10 a.m. ET. It brought Scheffler to tears afterward.

“Horrible situation for the Americans, quite embarrassing for them,” a World feed announcer said in a funereal tone.

For Team Europe, this was a walk in the park with the added bonus that they may have found a pairing to be reckoned with for the next decade and beyond.

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Marco Simone serves up a drivable par 4 where Ryder Cup dreams might go to die

No. 16 is one of a trio of short par 4s that will test strategy, skill and nerves in the Ryder Cup.

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Drivable par 4s are the most interesting holes in the pro game. Measuring somewhere south of 350 yards, the best of them entice the game’s top players to grab driver –  or sometimes 3-wood, and in a few cases with the longest hitters, even a driving iron – and smash the ball onto the green in pursuit of an eagle, birdie at worst.

There is, of course, a flip side: bogeys, double bogeys, humiliation and a tumble down the scoreboard when things don’t work out as planned.

These short par 4s are sometimes called half-par holes, but even pros who only halfway commit or halfway execute are prone to full-blown scorecard disasters. And with so many options and strategies available – especially when factoring in match play – the short par 4s are where the fun will begin at this week’s Ryder Cup in Rome.

It’s a whole different galaxy of distance and options than encountered by most amateur players, who are far more likely to experience the thrill or despair of a somewhat drivable par 3 than a reachable par 4. Tour players are a different kind of animal, with the advantage typically tilted to the biggest guns in what used to be a knife fight.

Each year we see several drivable par 4s send PGA Tour pros into fits. Always in the spotlight is No. 10 at Riviera and its almost unhittable green. It’s the same story at No. 17 at TPC Scottsdale’s Stadium Course, with water in play left and a tucked Sunday pin location – undoubtably a better strategic hole than the amphitheater par-3 16th that has gained so much fame in recent decades. These holes and dozens of others have oversized effects on eventual prize payouts.

In recent years, even the major championships have embraced their drivable par 4s. No. 6 at Los Angeles Country Club thrilled and confused in this year’s U.S. Open – Wyndham Clark just missed the green with a driving iron in the final round but produced a brilliant up-and-down from the gunch for birdie en route to victory. Likewise, Justin Thomas grabbed control of the playoff at the 2022 PGA Championship with a 3-wood blast that carried a creek to bound onto the putting surface of No. 17 at Southern Hills. Glory beckons on these short holes.

This week’s Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome promises such fireworks with several drivable par 4s. The fifth measures just 302 yards, but a pond guards the approach. No. 11 clocks in at 329 yards with a deep depression to the right of the green to gobble up wayward aggression. Both of these holes are within range for these Ryder Cuppers, but at what risk?

But 5 and 11 are mere warmups for No. 16, where plenty of high-pressure matches are likely to end and some Ryder Cup dreams are apt to crater. Just 303 yards long, the 16th has a small pond guarding the right side of the green. The hole is within reach, but so is the water. It’s do or die with the world watching.

Ryder Cup: Check out Nos. 5 and 11 in the yardage book

A bunker plopped into the center of the fairway some 235 yards off the tee only complicates things, as does the water crossing 60 yards short of the putting green. Wary or wise players can lay up short of the center bunker and still hit a wedge into the green, or they can try the more unlikely path of carrying the bunker yet remaining short of the creek to set up an even shorter wedge approach – don’t count on too many players attempting that route.

Or … they can fire away at the green. It’s just right there, within reach, tucked between three bunkers and the acqua. Coming so late in the matches, it could be the one decision and one swing that decides who is the GOAT and who is the scapegoat.

Marco Simone
The StrackaLine yardage map for No. 16 at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Rome, site of the 2023 Ryder Cup (Courtesy of StrackaLine)

No. 16 has seen its share of splashdowns in the Italian Open since the course was redesigned by Dave Sampson and European Golf Design, with American architect Tom Fazio involved as a consultant hired by the club. Most notably, Rory McIlroy pushed his tee ball into the drink while in contention at last year’s Italian and eventually finished fourth. Will that memory provide motivation or scar tissue for Europe’s highest-ranked player and arguably the best driver of the golf ball of his generation?

Of course, not all tee shots that miss the 16th green will find the water. Some might land in a bunker, or tall rough on a downhill slope with the pond beyond, or even the closely cropped fairway approach. The players and their stats masters have to factor if playing a shorter second shot from any of those areas is more advantageous than playing a full wedge from 120 yards back in the fairway. Yes, the goal is to drive the green, but most players who try won’t find the putting surface, instead relying on a spot of luck and their elite short games.

Ryder Cup format matters, too. In the fourball matches – two-man teams with each man playing his own ball, and the lowest score for each team counts – plan to see at least one player on each side swinging for the green on the short par 4s, perhaps after his partner lays up safely. Things are more interesting in foursomes, in which the alternate-shot format often focuses on not leaving your partner in a bad spot. Then the gloves come off in singles, each man (and his team of advisors) having to choose the best route to birdie or better by considering his strengths versus those of his opponent as well as his own bravado versus his own demons.

There are so many options, so many possible outcomes. The realistic scores range from 2 to 6. Expectations are high, as are demands on length plus precision multiplied by some unknown confidence factor.

Ryder Cup Marco Simone
Brian Harman plays from a greenside bunker on No. 16 during a practice round at Marco Simone before the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome. Players who try to drive the green but miss might find themselves in such a spot, with a long sand shot to a green backed by water. (Paul Ellis/AFP via Getty Images)

Both team captains were titans of the precision and confidence parts. European captain Luke Donald was never known for his distance off the tee but he climbed to No. 1 in the world, and American captain Zach Johnson proved to be the master of the layup by never going for a par-5 green in two en route to his 2007 green jacket. What will be their marching orders? Bet that reams of data will be analyzed figuring out go versus no-go.

There’s no doubt today’s professionals can reach the green of any of the short par 4s at Marco Simone, even guys such as American Brian Harman, who dominated this year’s British Open with a mix of precision iron play and gutsy putting. Short in comparison to Ryder Cup bombers such as McIlroy or European rookie Ludvig Aberg, Harman is still more than capable of driving the ball 300 yards downhill. But will he try? Better question: Should he?

On No. 16 in particular with the hopes of two continents on the line, it’s distance versus control, carpet bombing versus a sniper sneaking up on you. Expect to see eagle putts that knock opponents onto their heels, and also know there might be watery crashes. Hang on to your headcovers.

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Asllani blasts Italian federation after Sweden vs. Italy Nations League clash held at tiny stadium

Asllani: “You have to pay tribute to your women’s national team and put it in a bigger arena”

Progress is not linear, particularly in women’s soccer.

Just consider Italy, a country that has a glorious tradition in the sport on the men’s side, but only did away with government regulations preventing Serie A Femminile from becoming fully professional in 2020.

Just days after Megan Rapinoe, one of the pioneers of the equal pay movement, played her final international match, and with the players of current World Cup champions Spain having to battle their own federation over a litany of issues, Italy hosted Sweden on Tuesday in UEFA Nations League play.

The problem? The Italian federation (FIGC) decided to schedule the match in a small town’s equally small stadium.

Following a 1-0 win to the visitors, Sweden star Kosovare Asllani — who currently plays in Italy for AC Milan — ripped into the FIGC over its venue choice.

“It is under all criticism of the Italian federation to put the match here out in the forest,” Asllani told Swedish outlet SVT Sport. “I have seen more animals than people here.”

Reports held that just 2,500 people showed up for the match, which was played at the humble Stadio Teofilo Patini, a 7,200-seat venue that just so happens to be located in FIGC president Gabriele Gravina’s hometown. Castel di Sangro isn’t near any major population center, with the nearest city of note (Pescara) a 90-minute drive to the north.

“You have to pay tribute to your women’s national team and put it in a bigger arena and see how much you can pull,” said Asllani. “You can’t put the match out in the woods. It is under all criticism.”

Sweden’s previous match in the Nations League, a gripping 3-2 defeat against Spain, was played at Gamla Ullevi, a modern venue with a capacity of 18,416 that serves as home to men’s top-flight club IFK Göteborg. It had all the trappings of high-level international soccer.

Four days later, the Swedes stepped out onto the pitch at the Patini, nestled in a town with a population of 6,461. The normal home team, Castel di Sangro Cep 1953, currently sits in third place in the Eccellenza Molise, one of 29 regional divisions making up the fifth tier of Italian men’s soccer.

The Patini is a fine venue for fifth-division soccer played by a club that has never been to Serie A, and hasn’t been to Serie B since one eventful two-year stint from 1996-98 that was immortalized in Joe McGinniss’ book “The Miracle of Castel di Sangro.”

Readers of that book may be forgiven for seeing Gravina — whose exploits in that book included signing an actor and pretending he was actually a big addition from Leicester City — and being puzzled as to how he became the president of one of world soccer’s most successful federations.

In any case, the rolling green hills of the Abruzzo are visible from the stands at the Patini. It seems nice!

(Photo by Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images)

“Nice” does not, however, mean “venue suitable for the top level of European women’s soccer,” which is the entire thing Italy and Sweden were meeting up to do on the day.

It’s not that the FIGC always sends its women’s national team as far away from population centers as it possibly can. Next month, Italy will host Spain at Stadio Arechi in Salerno. Which is to say, at a 37,800-seat venue in a city of 133,000 that happens to be just south of Naples.

“Women’s football is on such a sharp upward curve,” Sweden’s Magdalena Eriksson told TV4 on Monday. “We are coming from a World Cup with such fantastic attendance numbers… It’s an important match and obviously we would have liked to see and test the limits of how many people would have come if we had played in a bigger arena, but also in a bigger city.”

If only the Italian federation saw it that way.

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