Nicolò Barella and Lorenzo Pellegrini got their name on the scoresheet and were Italy’s best players in a 2-0 win over Ecuador, while Guglielmo Vicario had a ‘quiet’ debut and Jorginho showed leadership skills.
Italian sports papers react to Italy’s win over Ecuador in the second and last friendly in the USA in March.
The Azzurri were more convincing than on Thursday when they had struggled to beat Venezuela 2-1.
Pellegrini and Barella scored a goal apiece and received the same ratings from Italian sports papers. The only exception was Gazzetta where the Inter midfielder, Inter’s captain on Sunday, was rated 7.5/10 against Pellegrini’s 7/10. A marginal difference.
The pink paper wrote Vicario had a ‘quiet’ debut and was only hesitant when building up from the back, but overall his performance was positive.
Another debutant, Raoul Bellanova, impressed the media and was rated 6.5 by Corriere dello Sport and Tuttosport and 7 by Gazzetta. The pink paper noted how Nicolò Zaniolo’s movement helped the Torino right wing-back to have space down the right flank, creating a few goal-scoring opportunities for the Azzurri.
Arsenal keeper Jorginho also received high ratings and according to Italian sports papers, he was calm and ‘wise’ with the ball at his feet and showed leadership skills by giving guidance to his teammates from the centre of the pitch.
Giacomo Raspadori was unconvincing and was the only Italian player with a rating below 6. However, as highlighted by Gazzetta, the Napoli striker, created spaces for his teammates and only had a couple of opportunities which he did not convert into goals.
Gazzetta: Vicario 6; Darmian 6.5, Mancini 6.5, Bastoni 6.5; Bellanova 7 (46′ Di Lorenzo), Barella 7.5, Jorginho 6.5 (67′ Locatelli 5.5), Dimarco 6 (87′ Cambiaso N/A); Zaniolo 6 (75′ Orsolini 6), Pellegrini 7 (67′ Frattesi 6); Raspadori (75′ Retegui 6). Coach: Spalletti 6.5
Corriere dello Sport: Vicario 6.5; Darmian 6.5, Mancini 6, Bastoni 6; Bellanova 6.5 (46′ Di Lorenzo 6), Barella 7, Jorginho 6.5 (67′ Locatelli 6), Dimarco 6 (87′ Cambiaso N/A); Zaniolo 6 (75′ Orsolini 6.5), Pellegrini 7 (67′ Frattesi 6); Raspadori 5 (75′ Retegui 6). Coach: Spalletti 6.5
Tuttosport: Vicario 6; Darmian 6.5, Mancini 6, Bastoni 6; Bellanova 6.5 (46′ Di Lorenzo 6), Barella 7, Jorginho 6.5 (67′ Locatelli 6), Dimarco 6 (87′ Cambiaso N/A); Zaniolo 6 (75′ Orsolini 6.5), Pellegrini 7 (67′ Frattesi 6.5); Raspadori 5.5 (75′ Retegui 6). Coach: Spalletti 6.5
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