Agustín Delgado: The height favored us when we had players in Quito, I don’t know how favorable it is now

That “the height favored us when we had players in Quito” is the criteria of former striker Agustín Delgado, top scorer of the Ecuadorian team in World Cup qualifying rounds and main scorer of the Tricolor in Korea-Japan 2002 and Germany 2006, regarding the conditions that surround the national team that disputes the World Cup in Qatar 2022 and whose first home is the Rodrigo Paz Delgado stadium, in the capital.

“I don’t know how favorable it is now“Delgado said in dialogue with the Venezuelan media Balls, regarding the clash between Ecuador and Venezuela on Thursday (4:00 pm) for matchday 13 of the South American qualifying for the next World Cup.

And the ex-footballer continued: “He just played a game with Bolivia in Guayaquil and did quite well”. This, in relation to the 3-0 triumph that La Tri obtained at the Monumental Banco Pichincha stadium on October 7 on the 11th date of the World Cup.

“The altitude is going to affect both Venezuela and Ecuador, because the majority (of players) do not stay in Ecuador or Quito. (The result) will have more to do with Ecuador’s game than the height factor.”, Considered Delgado, 46 ​​years old. He said it because of the number of selected footballers who are active abroad and who have a main role in the cast of technical director Gustavo Alfaro.

The Tricolor has played six home games in this tie, five of these at Rodrigo Paz Delgado and one at the Barcelona Sporting Club stadium. In the capital, where he will host Vinotinto, he registered three victories (against Uruguay, Colombia and Paraguay), one draw (with Chile) and one defeat (against Peru).

Delgado played the qualifiers for the World Cups in France 1998, Korea-Japan 2002 and Germany 2006. He scored 16 goals, which are included in the 31 he scored considering other competitions and friendlies with the National Team. He was La Tri’s top gunner until Enner Valencia surpassed him in October.

‘We haven’t grown much’

In the opinion of Tin, the Ecuadorian team “has not really grown much” in the last fifteen years.

“We fulfilled the illusion of all Ecuadorians, which was to qualify for the World Cup (Korea-Japan) for the first time. Then in the second, it was Germany 2006 and we were able to move on to the next round. I think that you have to go up, look for more and it has not improved so muchDelgado said.

La Tri also participated in Brazil 2014, a contest in which they did not pass the group stage.

And regarding the performance of the cast of Alfaro on the way to Qatar, he said: “Ecuador has been quite irregular, but it has achieved important points. That keeps him on the edge of the rankings. I think that with those points I should be at the foot of qualifying. This game (against Venezuela) must win it, he is obliged to add three units. You have to have the peace of mind and the ability to do it ”.

The national team will have the option of revenge against Vinotinto, since the latter, bottom of the tie, won 2-1 in Caracas in October, in a game postponed from date 5. (D)