The mini-Tri will seek to ‘repeat’ the title achieved in the South American U-20

Ecuadorian soccer opens the 2023 season internationally with the participation of the U-20 team in the South American of Colombiatournament to which the mini-Tri arrives to revalidate the title achieved in 2019 and that due to the COVID-19 pandemic he could not defend in 2021, so this season Conmebol resumes the qualifying tournament for the World Cup in Indonesia, in May.

They are four World Cup slots that will be distributed among the 10 participating teams, divided into two groups of five teams, of which the first three teams will access the final hexagonal and the fight for the title.

Who are Ecuador’s rivals in the South American Sub 20? The tournament starts on January 19.

“We are aware of the level that Ecuadorian football has achieved in recent yearswith the classification of the senior team to the Qatar 2022 World Cup and the previous sub-20 title, so that is our objective, to match what was previously achieved and repeat the classification to our world cupcommented midfielder JeamPaul Herrera.

the national team works under Jimmy Branwhich you have at your disposal 23 playerswith center back Patrickson Delgado (Ajax B-Netherlands) and midfielder Juan Sánchez (Sporting Cristal-Peru) as repatriates.

“We have worked on the physical part, we had directed work in that aspect, but the tactical aspect has not been left aside,” said Herrera, who emphasized the “pride” of integrating the selection and represent the country “something that all young people are looking for. I am privileged for that”he commented.

The mini-Tri works this week with double shifts and He has his two games on the agenda final checks before El Nacional on January 12 and with Liga de Quito on Saturday the 14th.

to the tournament, Ecuador travels on January 16, will be based in Cali, where they will share group B with Bolivia, Chile, Uruguay and Venezuela. Their games will be played at the Deportivo Cali stadium, in Palmira.

Herrera highlighted the “power and speed” of the team, qualities that allow coach Bran to grant “liberties” on the playing field, according to Herrera.

“We have had a good preparation, but we don’t trust each other, we have to do our thing in the tournament. We are aware of what we are at stake, we arrived prepared for that, so let’s add up the points”, he indicated.

The mini-Tri will debut on January 20 against Chile (7:30 p.m.). The team will complete its schedule with matches against Bolivia on Sunday 22, Venezuela (26) and Uruguay (28). The Ecuadorian team rests on the date of January 24. (D)