SAPPORO -- Italy had only lost one game (vs. Ireland in U.S.A '94) in regulation time in the World Cup since Mexico '86, conceding only 10 goals in those 19 games. This record was to remain untarnished as Italy used two goals from Christian Vieri to cruise to a 2-0 win over Ecuador in their Group G game at a chilly Sapporo Dome on Monday night.
Italian coach Giovanni Trapattoni had called on Francesco Totti "to take the team in his hands and carry 'the Azzurri' forward." Totti did not let his coach down with an inspirational display that had the 32,000 fans gasping in admiration.
Trapattoni, opted for a 4-4-2 formation, moving away from his favored 3-5-2, electing to pair forward Totti up front with Inter Milan's Vieri and leaving Juventus playmaker Alessandro Del Piero on the bench.