The champions of the 2020 European Championship, Italy, will be looking to test their readiness for the difficult task of trying to defend their crown as current holders with a friendly against South American long-timers, Ecuador on Sunday night.
Having done barely enough to secure their qualification for the next edition of the competition in Germany by finishing 2nd thanks to a better head-to-head record over Ukraine in the qualifying group, Italy now has to face the hardest part, defending the crown.
Ecuador too, on the other hand, will be hoping to use this game as a litmus test for their readiness towards the biggest international tournament in South America and a trophy they have never won, the Copa America.
New Boss, Luciano Spalletti Looks Poised for the Task
The former Napoli manager and the man to have led the Naples club to their first league title in years, Luciano Spalletti, looks very ready for the huge task of defending the Euros.
The manager knows first-hand what it is to lead a side to glory. He has done it several times in his club career with AS Roma and Zenit St, Petersburg and he looks to do it again.
Having had to replace fellow compatriot Roberto Mancini as the Italian boss with six games still to go in the qualifiers for the tournament, Spalletti led the rather young and new-looking Italy side to the finish line with 3 wins, 2 draws and a single defeat to England.
Since then he has beaten another South American side, Venezuela, 2-1, and is looking to make Ecuador the next side he has overcome on his list.
With two more friendly matches lined up before Italy’s opening game of the tournament against Albania, Spalletti with his young Italian side will have to take full advantage of the opportunity these games provide them.
Ecuador, Having Been World Cup Tested, is Looking Good
Ecuador was at the last FIFA World Cup as the only nation to join the traditional ones representing South America on the world stage, (Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay) ahead of Chile, Costa Rica, Paraguay etc.
As a matter of fact, they made the world tournament ahead of Italy, their opponents, and all that was due to their hard work and progression over the past few years.
As we speak, they are ranked 5th, ahead of Brazil, Paraguay, Chile, Bolivia and Peru in the ongoing World Cup qualifications for the next edition.
Led by Spanish manager, Felix Sanchez, the Ecuadorians are currently on a 6 game-unbeaten run that includes a victory over Uruguay and a draw with Colombia in the World Cup Qualifiers with their last defeat a 1-0 loss in the same competition against World Champs, Argentina.
Match Stats
Italy are unbeaten in 4 home games while Ecuador haven't lost in 6 matches.
The last time the two sides met was in the 2002 FIFA World Cup with the Italian running out 2-0 winners.
Italy have conceded 6 goals and scored 12 in their last 5 games while Ecuador have conceded just 1 goal and scored 5 in as many games.
You can check out the Italy vs Ecuador friendly game on MSport here:
https://www.msport.com/ng/web/sports/Soccer/International_Int__Friendly_Games/Italy_vs_Ecuador/sr:match:47748429?k=Italy?EMA
