Without two good presentations in the recent double programming of the World Cup 2026 qualifiers, the Ecuadorian team is left with four of the six contested units corresponding to the third and fourth dates of the qualifying tournament in the Conmebol area.

The team of Spain’s Félix Sánchez Bas beat Bolivia (2-1) in La Paz with a goal after the hour, scored by Kevin Rodríguez, with the complicity of defender Héctor Cuellar who failed to clear the ball. In the second half of that match, the Altiplanos dominated the Tricolor team, who, despite the victory at Hernando Siles, did not leave a good collective impression.

However, it was definitely due to the individual performance of some of the national team players in that game at the altitude of La Paz that two of their elements were selected to be part of the ideal eleven developed by Conmebol according to those displayed by the ten. representatives of South America. in the mentioned couple of days.

Argentina and Venezuela dominate

In Quito, Tricolor’s game against Colombia (0-0) was, in every way, bad. A VAR check frustrated the coffee growers to gain an advantage on the scoreboard by disallowing Carlos Cuesta’s goal in the 63rd minute and missing Luis Díaz’s penalty kick two minutes earlier. In the turmoil that was Ecuador, there were no more notable national team members.

Among the best eleven prepared by Conmebol for the double day, Argentina and Venezuela equally dominate with three representatives each. The world champions were in perfect rhythm beating Paraguay 1-0 in Buenos Aires and then beating Peru 2-0 in Lima, with Lionel Messi scoring twice.

Meanwhile, the surprising llaneros returned from away in Brazil with a 1-1 draw and beat Chile 3-0 in Maturin. Then there are two Uruguayans, a couple of Ecuadorians, and one Colombian in the ideal formation.

No Brazilians

They were selected by the South American Football Confederation), based on the 4-4-2 scheme:

Rafael Romo (Venezuela); Nahitán Nandez (Uruguay), Wilker Ángel (Venezuela), Piero Hincapié (Ecuador), Nicolás Tagliafico (Argentina); James Rodríguez (Colombia), Enzo Fernández (Argentina), Moisés Caicedo (Ecuador), Yeferson Soteldo (Venezuela); Lionel Messi (Argentina), Darwin Núñez (Uruguay). There is no element from Brazil, the country that drew with Vinotinto at home and lost 2-0 to the light blues in Montevideo. (D)