QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — While not Ecuador’s first choice, Gustavo Alfaro will coach the country’s national team at the World Cup in Qatar.
The Argentine, who worked at Boca Juniors, took the reins of the Ecuador national team in August 2020 from Jordi Cruyff, who had even managed the team on the pitch once due to the chaos caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Alfaro left Buenos Aires to an organization of promising players who, a year earlier, had finished last in their organization in the Copa America.
In his first press conference, he said Ecuador “has more length than present. “
“I to be part of the process,” Alfaro said, “of that expansion and shaping that dream we have of betting on the next World Cup. “
There will be Ecuador, the 4th of the team since 2002 after missing 4 years ago.
Ecuador will play the opening match against host Qatar on November 20 in Group A. Five days later, the team will face the Netherlands and then Senegal on Nov. 29.
PHYSICALITY
Ecuador’s young, physical team was very effective in the South American qualifiers, even more so at the height of Quito: 9,350 feet (2,850 meters) above sea level. The team scored 18 of its 26 numbers playing at home.
There will be no height to enjoy in Qatar, but players like defender Piero Hincapié, winger Gonzalo Plata and striker Enner Valencia will be able to upset opponents.
Ecuador’s body was key to their 2-0 win over Chile in November 2021, when Alfaro faced a team with 3 players under the age of 23.
TARGET DROUGHT
Two friendlies against Saudi Arabia and Japan in September raised questions about the team’s ability to score. Valencia, the team’s main threat, failed to score in either match.
Alfaro has already expressed his fear for the team’s goalscoring form. His other characteristics up front are Michael Estrada, Renato Ibarra, Angel Mena and Djorkaeff Reasco. But they didn’t score for the national team recently either.
“We have to score again, that component of our characteristic,” Alfaro said. “The scoreboard doesn’t have a winger. It depends on the total team, on our ability to help, to create opportunities. “
LAWSUIT
Ecuador will compete in the World Cup after a long legal battle. Chile and Peru filed a complaint related to the nationality of midfielder Byron Castillo.
Shortly after Ecuador secured its spot at the World Cup, the Chilean soccer federation claimed Castillo was, in fact, Colombian and ineligible.
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