Veteran captain Enner Valencia could not hold back tears as he apologized to his country for his team’s failure to qualify for the knockout stages of the World Cup in Qatar.
But Valencia, whose team came extraordinarily close to reaching the knockout stages and matching Ecuador’s last-most productive match in 2006, took temporary solace in fans who praised La Tri for inspiring them with their matches.
“We to all of Ecuador,” Valencia said, crying the day after Tuesday’s 2-1 loss to African champions Senegal prevented them from progressing.
“We didn’t expect this, we were very satisfied with what we were doing. . . Unfortunately, we were not living up to Ecuador’s expectations. “
However, the 33-year-old remains a hero at home. Ecuador’s most sensible goalscorer of all time scored 3 goals in the 2-0 win over Qatar and the 1-1 draw with the Netherlands when he deserved to win and qualify for the knockout stage.
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A draw would have worked against Senegal, but Ecuador paid for two lapses in concentration to give away a penalty and then a momentary goal after the euphoria of a 1-1 comeback.
“Unfortunately it’s football, it bites you,” defender Angel Preciado said. “We are very sorry not to stop by and thank our country for all its support. “
The Ecuadorian enthusiasts were unhappy but also proud that their team ranked 44th did so well.
“They gave everything and in the end they couldn’t win, but they showed they can compete with bigger teams,” Margarita Vidal, 36, said in a park in the coastal city of Guayaquil. “Ecuador is spoken and known in many countries, it is a feat that no one can take away from us. “
Ecuadorian media praised coach Gustavo Alfaro who injected the team with a new skill to complement Valencia’s experience.
“Youth: Gustavo Alfaro’s legacy for 2026,” headlined the Ecuadorian newspaper El Comercio, waiting for the next World Cup.
Additional reporting from Reuters.
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