Barella captains Italy for the first time | OneFootball

Inter midfielder Nicolò Barella is the captain of Italy for the first time in this evening’s friendly test against Ecuador.

It kicks off at the Red Bull Arena in New Jersey at 20.00 GMT.

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the LIVEBLOG.

Coach Luciano Spalletti has changed all 11 players who started the 2-1 win over Venezuela on Thursday, giving international debuts to Guglielmo Vicario and Raoul Bellanova.

Another interesting adjustment is seeing that Barella has been given the captain’s armband, his first for the Azzurri at the 52nd cap.

Traditionally, the armband goes to whoever in the starting XI has the most caps at senior level, so usually that is Gianluigi Donnarumma on 60.

As Donnarumma is rested in favour of Tottenham shot-stopper Vicario, that means Barella is next in line.

He has one more than Arsenal midfielder Jorginho, who is behind the Inter star on 51 caps including tonight’s match.