EActually, this World Cup in Qatar should have been the big stage for James Rodríguez or Arturo Vidal: But instead of the aging golden generations from Colombia and Chile, little Ecuador could this Sunday in the opening game (5 p.m. in the FAZ live ticker for Soccer World Cup, on ZDF and on MagentaTV) set the first South American scent brand. Once again. Behind top dogs Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay, Ecuador secured fourth place in World Cup qualifying and thus a direct ticket to the 2022 finals.
That this is no coincidence was proven by the most recent results, when Ecuador scored the last necessary points in the rock-hard “Eliminatorias” at the beginning of this year with a 1-1 draw against Brazil and Argentina. In World Cup Group A together with Qatar, the Netherlands and Senegal, the team of Argentine coach Gustavo Alfaro, who has been in Ecuador since 2020 after a year-long odyssey through the Argentine club landscape, should by no means have a chance.
Gruezo’s back problems
There are three players who are experiencing their third World Cup tournament, which is also proof that Ecuador is chronically underestimated, but is actually always there. In addition to Alexander Domínguez and Enner Valencia, this also includes Augsburg’s Carlos Gruezo, who had to leave the field after 30 minutes in the last Bundesliga game against VfL Bochum.
“I’ve already seen myself outside, at this World Cup. It was a really difficult situation,” Gruezo said of his back problems this week. But the healing process went faster than expected.
Carlos Gruezo’s healing process went faster than expected.
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Image: AFP
Now the underdogs are looking ahead. Her recipe for success is a little bit that of FC Augsburg. Diligent workers, from whom no one expects miracles, but who always deliver reliably.
Ecuadorian self-confidence
“The special thing about this team is their humility, their agreement that everyone works the same way and no one thinks they are bigger than everyone else,” says Gruezo. If things go well, that can also lead to the round of 16. Qatar and Senegal without their superstar Sadio Mané are within reach. On good days there can also be a draw against the Netherlands.
The Ecuadorians draw their self-confidence from the struggle for survival in the difficult World Cup qualifiers and the duels they have won against soccer giants Brazil and Argentina: “They are among the favorites for the World Cup. When you play against them, you know that you can take on any opponent and keep up with them,” says coach Gustavo Alfaro.
And he has one piece of advice for Europe’s major powers: Europe will have to brace itself for very strong South American rivals who combine European preparation with South American talent, a mix that Europeans are not really prepared for, Alfaro believes. But first, Ecuador wants to throw its own South American-European mix on the scales and set the first highlight on Sunday. If the opening win against Qatar succeeds, all doors are open to “La Tri”. Once again.
