How strange! Even the most obedient propagandists of the national team agreed that the match against Bolivia, despite the victory (2-1) with a goal scored in added minutes, left more doubts than certainty; more worries than belief in the future. Almost everyone was critical, except for those in charge of the story and commentary on the official television broadcasting the match.

Centenary of the Cambrian Shield

Kendry Páez’s goal elicited a blood-curdling scream from the storyteller. It seemed more like the announcement of a tragedy than a celebration. Moderation, gentlemen, celebration, celebration, not theatrical exaggerations and excesses. Comply with the painful scenario of aggrandizement of the small and receive your salary, but avoid the imposed obligation to deceive the public whose loyalty expects only the plain and simple truth as a reward. One day those who follow them, because there is no other remedy, will get tired and will be punished by eliminating the sound so that they can hear a more measured and less ostentatious voice on the radio.

Legendary right pointers, extinct

When 15 minutes were played, and our team was a ball that was impossible to untie, everything was a mess and did not even come shyly close to the Bolivian fence, the commentator declared: “Ecuador is playing very well and has long deserved it. forward in the marker”. Not even the leaders of the Ecuadorian Football Association believed in it, but the expert staff that followed the broadcast on tablet. “Analysis” of commitment aimed at gile, but it is no longer fooling the crowd.

Are ex-football players better presidents?

In the 45th minute, Páez’s goal for 1-0 caused a roar and a barrage of the most exaggerated adjectives. We imagine the narrator with his eyes bulging out of his head, veins bulging in his forehead ready to burst, heart rate at 1000 and on the verge of a hemorrhagic stroke. “Genius, monster, wonder boy!” was the cheapest thing i heard. I bet whoever it was that neither father Juan Manuel Basurco’s goal in La Plata, nor Víctor Ephanor’s in Machala, nor Aníbal Cibeyra’s trio of Olympic goals in three different editions of the Clásico del Astillero, nor Albert Spencer Peñarola’s double hat at the inauguration of the model caused so much scandal. Of course, not even Ecuador Martínez, Petronio Salazar, Rudy Ortiz or Alfonso Chiriboga were capable of such unbridled uproar. Neither the Argentinians nor the Catalans were so disturbed by Maradona’s goal against the English or Messi’s goal against Getafe, who dribbled half the team.

Although Kendry Páez is already playing in the first league at the age of 16, is a member of the national team and scored a goal in the qualifiers, he still shows promise. It is affirmed daily, but it is a value in football training and mentally. Excessive flattery will work against your technical and spiritual maturation. Intelligent as he is, he took advantage of the gap left by his marker, advanced unopposed and finished with class. Everything was fine at that moment. From then on, their performance was average and in line with the performance of a team that played one of its worst games. “Wonderful boy, wonderful boy!” shouted the narrator in clumsy euphoria, determined to baptize young Páez and then claim the copyright. Isn’t that what it is? A miracle child Is the Chilean Alexis Sánchez, whose nickname he got in his native Tocopilla in 1999, when he was eleven years old, and already stood out for his dribbling and goals?

Creativity has been lost in our community when it comes to giving nicknames to football players. This was redundant in the past and no one copied themselves. Magical head Luis Garzon was called out in the 1920s because, despite being a centre-back, he went into midfield with the ball in his head. And with him was a defender of great ferocity and quality: Efraín Llona, ​​nicknamed White Panther.

Elí Barreiro, the leader of Patrija and then of the LDE, was invited Yoyo by his ancestor Montubio and imitating the cry with which the cattle were driven into the field. Enrique Raymondi Chávez was Teacher, teacher, professor before Adolfo Pederner was called that in Argentina, and the shooter Marino Alcívar was baptized he King of the half circle. Vicente Lecaro, the monumental central defender, was dedicated the rest of the time as Minister of Defense. And Washington Muñoz will be forever he Chanfle.

Then a lot of nonsense followed. A short and hairy player was called Maradonite; They called a center forward with very average conditions and good press the Blonde Arrow, the historical nickname of Alfredo Di Stefano, one of the most famous footballers of all time. They called a veteran with regular funds Marshala nickname he carried until his death as the owner and master of one of the most famous center backs in our football: Honorato Gonzabay from Milagros.

Let’s go back to the Selection. Achieving a place at the 2026 World Cup does not have the risks of the previous qualification rounds. Six out of ten qualify, plus a playoff. Perhaps this causes complacency in some players who measure their efforts. Although his last games were not for applause, the absence of Pervis Estupiñán is noticeable. The weak Bolivia overcame the defense in the second half. The midfield functioned neither as a support nor as a restrainer. Despite the flood of praise showered on Moisés Caiceda by a complacent and functional journalism in the interest of the FEF, his performance falls short of what is expected of him. His contribution is measured by two assists. In the first, it was obvious that the door had opened for Páez.

The clearance was not the work of creative play or dribbling that destroyed Bolivia’s defensive resource. It was a mistake on the scoreboard when it was hanging high. Merits? Control, Páez shift and definition. Midfielder goal. The winning goal has only one merit: Kevin Rodríguez’s effective shot. The source is not in Moisés Caicedo’s assist, but in Héctor Cuellar’s error in an uncomplicated game

From then on everything was a failure. Day of Enner Valencia, sadly. We were irritated by the complaints of journalists and fans of Inter de Porto Alegre about the mistakes of our compatriot in the semi-final of the Copa Libertadores against Fluminense. They were inexplicable in a player of his career. Last Thursday, he repeated his unfortunate performance. Something is happening with Valencia. He either lacks someone to play with or is going through a bad time. The company does not perform. Jordy Caicedo didn’t work. No one comes close to Enner in his campaigns. Moisés Caicedo prefers branding to supporting his attackers and sometimes disappears in an agitated mood. Until today, in this match, he was not what we expect from a highly regarded footballer. He alone is worth in pennies plus what the entire team is worth, including the coaching staff and godfather.

Colombia is our next obstacle. He has a good team and is not afraid of height. They know that they are even because the national team members, like them, are from the plains. So much so that La Paz drowned, as it happens to other teams. TV announcers have to prepare their throats by gargling with salt and water while the commentator Googles an immortal catchphrase or epic nickname. (OR)