When the ball starts to be unrolled at the Rodrigo Paz Delgado Stadium this Tuesday at 18:30, it will be 1064 days (2 years and 11 months) since the biggest victory of the Ecuadorian team in the qualifying rounds: a merciless 6-1 victory against Colombia, they are going to the World Cup in Qatar in 2022

Several print media in the coffee-growing country have shyly repeated, in recent days, that “Colombia has turned the page” regarding that disaster, with the immediate reproduction, after that statement, of coach Néstor Lorenzo’s statement: “Previously there is nothing to see, every match is another story.” But a review of the publications of the most important newspapers and magazines, in their digital editions, shows that there is no such “turning of the page” and that the gruesome defeat is still a sporting demon that those from the north were not able to exorcise.

For example, this Tuesday’s newspaper editor’s column Time, from Bogotá, is titled Selection Colombia returns to the place of its humiliation’. In it, journalist Gabriel Melik says, among other things, that “three years ago she was defeated in what was the end of Carlos Queiroz as her coach. The silhouette of a sluggish and inert team is still painted, and the kicks from the 6-1 victory that Ecuador gave them are also marked. Was it a rebellion against Queiroz? Was it a fight between some players?”

“Football Crime”

Furthermore, it is read in Time that “so, three years later, Colombia returns to the scene of that football ‘crime’, and the optimism surrounding it is moderate, regardless of that tragedy or whether or not James plays because of obvious muscle fatigue or height.” Quito “.

While the magazine Weekalso this Tuesday, says that “that afternoon of terror in Quito caused a deep scandal within the coffee team, which days later would announce the departure of Carlos Queiroz and, in addition, fight rumors of alleged quarrels within the team. . dressing room between the ‘heavyweights’ of the national team such as James Rodríguez, Juan Guillermo Cuadrado and Luis Fernando Muriel.”

According to the publication, “the (Colombian) team has denied all these allegations, however, the version of the supposed ‘box’ they made of Queiroz still remains alive, to remove him immediately and start a new cycle as ordered by Reinaldo Ruedo.”

‘Disastrous’

Also Earthfrom Cali (as did the inhabitants of Bogotá The viewer and New era), recalled Ecuador 6, Colombia 1. He mentioned this: “The most recent memory is bitter for Colombia and pleasant for Ecuador.” On November 17, 2020, the same fourth day of the Qatar 2022 qualifiers, La Tri hosted the coffee farmers at the Quito league stadium.”

“That evening the result left a disastrous 6-1 against Colombia, led at the time by Carlos Queiroz, a result that ended up being one of the most significant for not making it to the orbital event in Qatar. The defeat was so heavy that rumors of a fight between the Colombian players in the locker room spread in the press,” he reported on his website.

Colombia has never forgotten the humiliating beatings inflicted by the team led by Gustavo Alfaro. Why should it be done so easily, just from one World Cup to another? Brazil has five world crowns in its showcases and every time it hosts Uruguay, be it a friendly or an official match, the memory of the Maracanazo in 1950 is reawakened.

Argentina, another power – which Colombia is not -, the team of Mario Kempes, Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi wears three stars on the Albiceleste jersey, one for each World Cup won. However, they will not be able to shake off the memory of the 6-1 that Czechoslovakia sent them back to Buenos Aires, Sweden in 1958. Colombia still hasn’t forgotten the massacre in Quito. And it will be like this for a long time. (D)