Ricardo Gareca, against the Ecuadorian team, was “disappeared” in his first contact 40 years ago

“Ricardo Gareca will lead Ecuador,” the newspaper categorically assured ACE, from Spain, in the headline of a piece of news in which last Wednesday the hiring of the Argentine was taken for granted. After 24 hours, there was a reaction from the press in Peru, a country where the Tiger he directed the two-color team until the previous June: ‘Bombshell! Ricardo Gareca, DT of Ecuador ‘,’ Now he is a rival! ‘, ‘There is total agreement ‘, was read in the headlines of several Lima newspapers.

‘Bombshell! Ricardo Gareca, DT of Ecuador ‘,’ Now he is a rival! ‘, ‘There is total agreement ‘, say newspapers in Peru about the alleged contracting

Comments have arisen from various sectors regarding the probability that Gustavo Alfaro already has a replacement (for example, “Ecuador should look for a better-level coach,” said Jorge Célico). But clinging to his selective mutism, the leadership of the Ecuadorian Football Federation has not commented on the version brought by the international press. Did they anticipate the FEF with the signing of Gareca, as happened with the separation of Alfaro, first announced by the Argentine journalist César Luis Merlo?

“Ricardo Gareca will lead Ecuador,” says the newspaper AS, from Spain

Until it becomes official whether or not Gareca is the coach who will lead Ecuador in the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, it is worth remembering that the 64-year-old Argentine already had contacts with the National Team, including his first close encounters with him. national team. It happened four decades ago.

In the Reed Park of Guayaquil

On August 8, 1983, the Argentine delegation arrived at the Main Port to prepare for its confrontation with Ecuador, for Group 2 of the Copa América (this was the third and last time that the tournament was played without a fixed venue and with matches of round trip).

‘Ecuador should look for a coach with a better level than Ricardo Gareca; smoke is sold with the subject’, reproaches Jorge Célico, former South American champion coach

The schedule of the Albiceleste, which brought 18 players for Carlos Bilardo’s debut match as coach in an official competition, included a concentration at the Oro Verde hotel, training sessions at the Reed Park facilities (Barcelona SC practiced there, in La Atarazana), and a trip to the capital set for August 10 to fulfill, that night, his cupbearer commitment. In the gaucho squad, the starting center forward was Gareca, then a star figure for Boca Juniors. Brazil completed the key from which the leader advanced directly to the semifinals.

Under the command of Ernesto Guerra the national formation was this: Carlos Delgado; Orlando Narváez, Orly Klinger, Wilson Armas, Hans Maldonado; Polo Carrera (Galo Vásquez), José Jacinto Vega, José Villafuerte; Mario Tenorio, Lupo Quiñónez (Vinicio Ron), Carlos Gorozabel. Argentina lined up with Nery Pumpido; Néstor Clausen (Juan Bujedo), José Luis Brown, Omar Jorge, Óscar Garré; Jorge Burruchaga, Ricardo Giusti, Miguel Ángel Russo, Alejandro Sabella; Vícto Rogelio Ramos (Rubén Darío Insúa), Ricardo Gareca. Brown and Ron were ejected for mutual assault.

Gareca, annulled

In the chronicle of the newspaper EL UNIVERSO, of August 11, 1983, to the Tiger He mentioned it only three times. “In the first minute, Gareca received the ball from a throw-in, eluded Narváez and Armas and crossed to create the first dangerous situation for the Ecuadorian fence.” Then, at minute 9, “Argentina advanced and Gareca entered dangerously, but Armas defended well.” It was highlighted in the note that Gareca “Armas and Klinger virtually disappeared from the field of play”,

Before 45,544 spectators at the Atahualpa stadium, Argentina went 2-0 up with a brace from Burruchaga, but in a “vibrant match”, in “a dramatic finale, with a national representative launched on the attack from the start of the match”, Ecuador “He managed to tie 2-2″, reviewed El UNIVERSO. Great goals from Vásquez (68 minutes) and Vega (87) served to equalize.

It was added that “Argentina went through real hardships” and that “the valuable goalkeeper Pumpido, figure of the match, excelled by stopping shots from the national team.” And “something was established that had never happened before: rivals respect us. Argentines, we believe, never thought they would find such a team. They went to play soccer and found the right answer; They wanted to pass over us, being arrogant, and they hit the stone in their teeth. We had not seen Ecuadorian players so full of enthusiasm and optimism before.”

Gareca almost goals

Gareca and the Tricolor had a second round in the return duel, at the Monumental stadium, of River Plate, on September 7, 1983. Another time it was a tie at 2, the Argentine striker left without scoring, and once again victory escaped Ecuador.

Magazine The graphic He highlighted a “barely deflected header from Gareca at the exit of a corner” and “a saving cross from (Alfredo) Encalada over a cross from Gareca himself and after a great action from Sabella”.

Lupo Quiñónez opened the account for the National Team, at minute 44. At 50 Ramos equalized. In the second minute of discount Lupo received a penalty kick from goalkeeper Ubaldo Fillol and with a violent charge Maldonado put the national team to win. But the Bolivian referee Óscar Ortube let the clock run and in the 12th minute of addition he signaled a maximum penalty that Burruchaga did not waste. The future world champion scored the final 2-2.

(D)