Second friendly match for the Azzurri in the States on Sunday evening. The 4 – 3 to 200
Spalletti's national team won but did not convince in the first of two friendlies in the United States despite the final victory against Venezuela thanks to two goals from Retegui, the twenty-four-year-old Genoa striker. After this performance with more shadows than lights, the Azzurri are moving from Florida to Harrison in New Jersey where next Sunday, in the New York Red Bulls stadium, at 21pm, once again without the worry of the final result, they will face the Ecuador. A second test from which the new coach expects important indications to face the next European Championships in Germany with what it takes to defend the continental title won on penalties three years ago in the final in London against the home team.
Unlike Venezuela, which they have never met before, Italy has already faced Ecuador on two occasions. The first at the World Cup in Korea and Japan in 2002 when two goals from Christian Vieri promoted success in the group stage. Three years later, in New York and again in a friendly, the second match with the final 1-1 thanks to the goal scored by Luca Toni.
Given Spalletti's need to try some other players called up, it is likely that he will propose a line-up with some initial variations compared to the match against Vinotinto. Donnarumma, more reliable with his hands than his feet, remains number 1 and is untouchable. As well as Retegui thanks to the two decisive goals scored against Venezuela. He could be joined in attack by Politano and Zaccagni, who took over from Chiesa about half an hour before the final whistle. In midfield perhaps from the first minute, and not from the second half, Barella with Locatelli and Pellegrini. Three or four defense with Buongiorno still on the pitch with Bellanova, Bastoni and Dimarco who should start from the starting whistle.
Ecuador, which is thirty-first in the Fifa ranking, will be fielded by coach Félix Sánchez Bas with a three-man defense with Arboleda in the center and the full-backs Ordoñez and Realpe ahead of the goalkeeper Dominguez. Caicedo, who plays for Chelsea, will be the central trident with Yeboah, a forward for Raków Częstochowa, and Sarmiento who plays for Brighton. Behind them the quartet Ortiz, Gruezo, Cifuentes, Minda.
This time the opponent for Italy is stronger when scrolling through the proposals of the BetFlag analysts in comparison to the match against Venezuela. Azzurri always favorites but 1 high at 2,08, with the X which is offered at 3,05 close to the 3,30 of Ecuador's 2. This time too, without the obsession of three points, the exact result at the end of the match can be a type of bet not to be overlooked. Starting, among the many proposed, from 0 to 0 which multiplies by 6,75, from 1 to 1 to 5,05, with 2 to 2 at 14,00, 2 to 1 at 7,85, the 1 – 2 at 10,55, 4 – 3 and 3 – 4 at 200.
