Vieri double as Italy take a stroll past Ecuador

Italy 2 Ecuador

This City has not exactly embraced the World Cup. A quick peck on the cheek is the style in this unpretentious northern outpost. So, no bunting, no ostentation and, despite the best efforts of a yellow-shirted phalanx of Ecuadorians, an atmosphere more classical concert than football match inside the Sapporo Dome. Passions will run higher on Friday night when England and Argentina renew rivalry here, for sure. But Ecuador's long-awaited World Cup debut peaked with a hearty rendition of the national anthem.

To be fair, Italy were in an ungenerous mood, ruthlessly dissecting the pretensions of the South Americans with two goals in the first 27 minutes. But Giovanni Trapattoni, the Italy coach, could not have expected such a degree of compliance from a team who had finished second to Argentina and ahead of Brazil in qualifying for their first World Cup. With the game well under control by half-time, Trapattoni preferred to put some gentle miles into his squad players than to pulverise dispirited opponents in the manner of the Germans in the same stadium on Saturday. The arrival of Alessandro del Piero in the 74th minute was the most popular move of the second half, on a snap count of popping flash bulbs.

"We are in good shape," said Trapattoni. "It is a long tournament and it is important to preserve the energies of the players as much as possible. I think it was good for everybody tonight."

Just how much longer Trap will be able to keep Del Piero on the bench is a matter of national debate. Victory justified the coach's selection of Francesco Totti alongside Christian Vieri in attack and a reversion to a long-forgotten 4-4-2 formation. The pair combined slickly for the first goal inside eight minutes, a neat cutback from the byline by Totti which the Inter forward met with a powerful sidefoot past Jose Cevallos, and Totti himself twice went close with spectacular volleys. But Italy would be more flexible if Totti reverted to his usual position behind the front two strikers.

Not that Vieri needed much help. In this sort of mood, he is a strong candidate to claim the Golden Boot award denied him by Davor Suker in France four years ago.

"He is a generous player," said Trapattoni. "Generous for the other players. He can keep the ball because he is so strong and he makes it easier for his team-mates."

Vieri was far too powerful for Ulises de la Cruz, who was brushed aside as the Italian latched on to Luigi Di Biagio's perfect long pass to score his second in the 27th minute.

Yet, in their brief spells of animation, Ecuador did enough to confirm the doubts about the Italian's defence. Had Gianluigi Buffon not pulled off a spectacular save with a point blank block of Agustin Delgado's angled drive in the final minute, Ecuador would have gained at least some consolation. But only when the lively Carlos Tenorio joined Delgado in attack for the second half, in place of the ageing Alex Aguinaga, did Ecuador manage to turn some decent midfield possession into genuine threat.

Faced with twin strikers and a ball angled in behind them, Alessandro Nesta and Fabio Cannavaro looked far from invulnerable. Nor did Paolo Maldini, captaining his country for a record 71st time, look completely at ease on the rare occasions he was exposed to the pace of Edison Mendez.

But Ecuador's attitude was best summarised by the sight of two members of their coaching staff posing for a photo with Del Piero. Croatia and Mexico, Italy's other opponents in Group G, are likely to be less concerned with sightseeing.

Vieri played down Italy's chances of lifting the World Cup. "This is just the first step on a difficult road and we still have a long way to go," he said. "We have just won one game and if you want to lift the World Cup you have to win seven matches. That should make it obvious that there is still a lot for us to do."

Italy 2 Ecuador 0
Veiri 7, 27