Zaza wants dream to continue

Sassuolo striker Simone Zaza has set his sights on a long international career after picking up his first two Italy caps.

The 23-year-old made his first appearance as Italy beat Netherlands 2-0 in Antonio Conte's first game as coach last week, before scoring the opener in his country's Euro 2016 qualifying opener - a 2-0 win in Norway.

And, after settling quickly into life as part of the national team, Zaza has no intention of relinquishing his place.

"It [the Norway match] was certainly a different game," he told Rai Sport. "Perhaps the Dutch were stronger in terms of quality, but Norway were very determined and we struggled for a while, but eventually achieved our targets.

"I am living a dream week. Now my objective is to stay in this squad and continue to do well.

"Conte's approach is very tiring, but if you want to do well and play as a team, then you have to run. That's how it should be."

Zaza will be back on Serie A duty this weekend as Sassuolo take on Inter.

Brazil 1 Ecuador 0: Dunga´s men keep clean sheet

Brazil made it consecutive 1-0 wins, as they edged Ecuador in a friendly in New Jersey on Tuesday.

Dunga's reign in charge of the South American powerhouse has now overseen two clean sheets, a far cry from conceding seven against the Germans at the World Cup.

However, the Brazilians still had their moments at the back against Sixto Vizuete's men, but they held firm for another narrow win courtesy of Willian's 31st-minute goal.

Dunga made just two changes to his starting XI from the side that beat 10-man Colombia on Friday, with Maicon - banished from the squad due to an "internal problem" - and David Luiz (knee) replaced by Marquinhos and Danilo.

Vizuete also made two changes from the side that thrashed Bolivia 4-0 on Saturday, goalkeeper Alexander Dominguez and attacker Junior Sornoza starting in place of Maximo Banguera and Fidel Martinez respectively.

Brazil led after a fine move from a set piece on the half-hour mark.

Standing over the dead ball, Oscar played it short to Neymar - who had earned the free-kick - and the Barcelona star's lofted ball through found Willian who finished cleanly.

Ecuador responded admirably, with Enner Valencia twice threatening to equalise.

The West Ham forward got his head on a cross in from Sornoza in the 32nd minute, but it did not threaten Jefferson in goal.

Three minutes later, though, Valencia rattled the woodwork as Brazil's defence looked increasingly vulnerable.

And with a two-goal cushion high on Brazil's wishlist, Neymar blew a chance in front of an empty net early in the second half.

Neymar, the match-winner against Colombia on Friday, got his foot to a low cross in from the right, but he poked it into the underside of the crossbar - and it deflected back into the grateful hands of Ecuador custodian Dominguez.

Ecuador continued to press and bother the Brazilian defence, and they had few better chances than a header from Valencia again - which was cleared off the line by Filipe Luis in the 61st minute.

Valencia connected at the back post from a well-weighted cross from the right byline from Juan Paredes, but the goal-bound effort was first parried by Jefferson before Filipe Luis acrobatically cleared with the outside of his left boot.

The game was end-to-end for much of the second half, with Dunga swinging five changes throughout the period as he trialled the likes of Fernandinho, Elias, Philippe Coutinho, Ricardo Goulart and Everton Ribeiro.

However, Brazil's best chance to seal the match fell to Neymar - who was fouled on the edge of the area in the 80th minute.

However, the attacker's shot from the dead ball was deflected wide by Ecuador's Walter Ayovi - and was incorrectly ruled a goal-kick by central referee Edvin Jurisevic.

It did not matter, though, as Brazil made it back-to-back victories since their calamitous World Cup campaign ended with consecutive heavy defeats.

Bolivia 0 Mexico 1: Winless run continues for South Americans

Bolivia's winless streak now stands at 13 games after they were beaten 1-0 by Mexico in an international friendly in Denver on Tuesday.

Miguel Layun's 18th-minute strike was the difference as Mexico emerged victorious at Dick's Sporting Goods Park.

While the win ensured Mexico left the United States unbeaten after Saturday's goalless draw against Chile, it heaped further misery on Bolivia.

Bolivia, who finished second-bottom in the CONMEBOL section of World Cup qualifying, have not won a game since they edged Haiti 2-1 in February last year.

The likes of goalkeeper Daniel Vaca, Daniel Chavez, Danny Bejarano and Leandro Maygua were promoted to Bolivia's line-up as coach Xabier Azkargorta went in search of a response following Saturday's 4-0 rout to Ecuador.

Mexico coach Miguel Herrera named a completely different starting XI to the one that faced Chile on the weekend, with Layun, Moises Munoz, Hugo Ayala, Hiram Mier, Marco Fabian, Javier Aquino, Antonio Rios, Javier Orozco and Rodolfo Pizarro selected.

Debutants Luis Venegas and Erick Torres were also included.

After a relatively subdued start to the game, with neither side able to create anything clear-cut, Mexico made the breakthrough courtesy of Layun in the 18th minute.

The 26-year-old full-back pounced on a rebound to fire the ball into the roof of the net after Torres' initial shot was saved by Bolivia goalkeeper Vaca.

Bolivia struggled to possess the ball for large parts of the opening 45 minutes as Mexico pegged the South Americans back in their own half.

It was an onslaught from Mexico in the closing stages of the first half, with Bolivia fortunate to be trailing by just the solitary goal at the break.

Mexico thought they had a penalty three minutes into the second half after Aquino was bundled over in the area but American referee Chris Penso awarded a goal kick.

As Mexico keeper Munoz remained untroubled, Herrera's men continued to pose a threat at the other end and came within a whisker of doubling their lead just past the hour mark after Layun almost caught Vaca off his line.

Vaca was forced into action against just minutes later, denying Torres from close range.

Tensions boiled over for Bolivia substitute Ramiro Ballivian, who was given a straight red card for invading the personal space of the assistant referee in the 90th minute.

Bolivia did have a chance in the first minute of injury time to salvage a draw but Ronald Eguino's header cannoned back off the post.

Dunga: New Jersey pitch limited forwards

Brazil coach Dunga said the only negative in their 1-0 friendly win over Ecuador on Tuesday was the state of the pitch in New Jersey.

The result signified back-to-back clean sheets for the Brazilians, on the back of their calamitous finish to the World Cup on home soil - in which they shipped seven and three goals in their last two games to bow out in embarrassing fashion.

Dunga's bow in his second stint in charge of Brazil saw them down Colombia 1-0 on Friday, in their first match in the post-Luiz Felipe Scolari era.

Despite Ecuador creating numerous chances, mostly involving Enner Valencia including a header that was cleared off the line by Filipe Luis, Dunga said it was all positive for the five-time world champions.

Dunga criticised the state of the MetLife Stadium pitch, which hosted an NFL game on Sunday.

"I don't think there were negatives. We are more focused, and seemed more aware on the pitch," the 50-year-old said.

"For me every player did well within their position.

"Our front men had more difficulties today, as the pitch was not ideal for our pacy strikers."

Brazil goalkeeper Jefferson was also critical of the surface.

"[The pitch] was very bad, the grass was too soft," Jefferson told SporTV.

"It's hard for a keeper to move like that, you spend more time to go after the ball, but that's Selecao, overcoming this kind of difficulties, so it was a good effort."

Dunga said that his players continued to push for a second goal, despite things not always going to plan, was an indication of their character.

Neymar hit the underside of the crossbar from point-blank range in their most glaring stumble, but Dunga hailed their resilience.

"We have top quality players, and have to use this on our advantage," Dunga said.

"There are players with good set-piece skills but fortunately, today, besides succeeding on the play, players didn't give up on it, which is something we always ask for as well."

Dunga said moving forward, he hoped to play more creative players up front, and had a thinly veiled dig at Fluminense striker Fred - who was in Scolari's squad in Brazil.

"Now we have to continue this renovation, giving opportunities to players, and sequence of matches," he added.

"Players need more playing time in order to have more confidence, to feel safer and to risk more plays.

"For the first time Brazil played without a poacher up front, we opted for quicker and more agile players.

"We will follow this, and for the next time we hope to have some things clearer on our work."

Delgado grounded after maiden goal

Chile match-winner Juan Delgado said he fulfilled a dream but is determined to keep his feet on the ground after a special night in Florida.

Delgado, 21, scored his first international goal as Chile defeated Haiti 1-0 in an international friendly at Lockhart Stadium on Tuesday.

Appearing in just his second match for the Chile national team, Delgado tucked away a rebound from just outside the six-yard box in the 20th minute.

His call-up to the Chile squad was reward for his scintillating form for powerhouse club Colo Colo, having scored four goals in seven games in the Primera Division.

But the youngster is refusing to look too far ahead as he bids to come a regular under national coach Jorge Sampaoli.

"The goal is a dream achieved, but still cannot get anything because there are many things to improve and contribute," Delgado said post-game.

"I want to keep earning minutes."

Delgado received praise from Sampaoli, who said: "He's a young guy, and score in the senior team is very good."

The result, which ended Chile's three-game winless streak, never looked in doubt but the South Americans were far from their best as travel took its toll.

Sampaoli said his side were guilty of wasting opportunities throughout the contest.

"We had a very exhausting trip, we complicated the game," he said.

"In the first half we had a lot of chances. [We] tired in the second, we felt weary and could not control the game.

"It became a sloppy game."

Coleman hopeful on Ramsey injury

Wales manager Chris Coleman is hopeful Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey will be fit for his club's Premier League clash with Manchester City.

Ramsey was forced off in injury time during Wales' 2-1 Euro 2016 qualifying win in Andorra on Tuesday after picking up an ankle injury.

Gareth Bale spared Wales' blushes in the principality, with the Real Madrid star scoring twice - including a superb 25-yard free-kick nine minutes from time - after Ildefons Lima had given Andorra a shock early lead from the penalty spot.

The game was played on an artificial pitch, and the surface drew the ire of both Coleman and Bale after the match.

Ramsey's problem was caused by a knock rather than anything to do with the pitch, but the 23-year-old is facing a race against time to be ready for Arsenal's home game against Premier League champions City on Saturday.

"He got a kick and there was a twist in his ankle," Coleman explained.

"It was coming to the end of the game and it was pointless taking a risk with him.

"Hopefully he'll be okay for Arsenal at the weekend, but we'll have to see what the next 24 to 48 hours hold."

Owen backs Welbeck to shine

Former England striker Michael Owen has tipped Danny Welbeck to shine at his new club Arsenal.

Welbeck completed his move to the Emirates Stadium from Manchester United on transfer deadline day last week for a reported fee of around £16million.

The Manchester-born 23-year-old is a graduate of United's youth system, but struggled to establish himself as a first-team regular at Old Trafford after making his debut in September 2008.

Welbeck was England's match-winner in their opening Euro 2016 qualifier on Monday, scoring both goals in a 2-0 win in Switzerland after starting in his favoured centre-forward position.