Guglielmo Vicario relished his perfect Italy debut in the 2-0 win over Ecuador and the Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper is not ‘setting limits’ for his career.
Not only was this his senior debut for Italy, but he had never even represented his country at various youth levels, so it was a huge moment for the former Empoli goalkeeper.
“It is a target I had set for myself, and I am so pleased to have done it with a clean sheet and a victory. We deserved the win tonight,” Vicario told RAI Sport.
He was one of two debutants in the completely transformed starting XI against Ecuador, along with Torino winger Raoul Bellanova, and the 2-0 result at the Red Bull Arena in New Jersey was decided by goals from Lorenzo Pellegrini and Nicolò Barella.
“We did well to understand when the right moments were to suffer under pressure and go on the counter-attack, as that is how we scored the second goal.
“It’s about reading the various phases of the match. You can suffer a little, but the important thing is to know what to do.”
Vicario knows that his place at Euro 2024 is by no means guaranteed, as Ivan Provedel of Lazio is second choice behind Gianluigi Donnarumma, with Vicario and Napoli’s Alex Meret battling for that third spot.
Having achieved his target of representing Italy, what is the next aim for the Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper?
“My objective is to improve day after day, without setting limits and without flying too close to the sun either. I try to experience the present and expect the maximum from myself.”
This completes the United States tour for the Azzurri, who also beat Venezuela 2-1 in another friendly on Thursday evening.
He is better than Donnarumma. Way better with the ball at his feet and he doesn’t make mistakes.