COVID-19 and injuries stop the call for the Ecuadorian national team

With six cases of COVID-19 and injured players in the select group of DT Gustavo Alfaro, the final call of the Ecuadorian team for the double qualifying date, in which the Tri will receive Brazil and visit Peru, still waiting.

A first group of eleven players was summoned by Alfaro to start work on Monday at the National Team, of which defenders Byron Castillo and Fernando León were sidelined due to injuries; a first cause to see the tricolor template diminished.

The other factor lies in the spread of COVID-19 that affect selectable players. Known cases in recent days: Jose Hurtado (Bragantino) and Robert Arboleda (Sao Paulo), who had to be absent from the preseason with the tricolor team.

to these players Janner Corozo (Delfin SC) and Michael Estrada (Toluca) joined, whose sports agent reported his infections. Estrada’s case was detected in the preview of the game that faced the Red Devils with Santos Laguna on Sunday, for which he was removed from the team.

midfielder Michael Carcelén (Barcelona SC) was also confirmed with the virus and the medical body of his club is the one in charge of his surveillance.

The most recent confirmed case is that of goalkeeper Alexander Domínguez, who was not considered the weekend for the preparatory games of Deportes Tolima (Colombia) and is isolated, but a new diagnosis is expected on Thursday, with which he could rejoin the pijao squad.

“Professor Gustavo Alfaro has handled himself well in the calls. The issue of COVID-19 has not allowed all the names to be known, there are players who are isolated, because they have the flu or they are infected,” said Carlos Manzur, vice president of the Ecuadorian Soccer Federation.

“The pandemic adds up and we have to deal with those factors that complicate the selection”, commented the manager in a chat with the radio Network, where he also spoke of the “anxiety and expectation throughout the country to know the payroll, but it is a situation that is handled by the coaching staff and we believe that it has been handled well,” he said.

In observation

To these novelties among the possible summoned of the Tri other names are added, such as Carlos Gruezo, Enner Valencia and Hernán Galíndez, with physical discomfort in recent days, although not ruled out by Alfaro.

Galindez suffered a cut on his knee on Saturday, in his debut with U. de Chile, a problem that the player himself ruled out as inconvenient to play this Thursday against Boca Juniors, in the Summer Tournament played in Argentina.

“It is a cut that has already healed, you have to wait and take care of it, but it will not be an impediment to continue training and be against Boca the following week”, said the tricolor goalkeeper.

Hernán Galíndez debut, in defeat of the U. de Chile

Valencia had a cold last week while recovering from an injury, but in Fenerbahce (Turkey) they ruled out COVID-19 and he is expected this Saturday in the game against Sivasspor, so the top scorer of the Tri would be available.

In case of Carlos Gruezo would be the most complex. The player is not considered in Augsburg (Germany) after an injury that has kept him away since the beginning of December, which would have him without game rhythm, in case of a call.

In analysis of the group of selectable and the respective evolutions of their health, Alfaro would present the final list “this Friday, as always, a week before the games”, advanced Manzur.

Ecuador has scheduled the playoff games on January 27 and February 1. By date 15 will play in Quito (16:00) against Brazil, and for day 16 will visit to Peru, in Lima, at 9:00 p.m.. (D)