The only player who was in the three World Cups that the Tri played gave his impressions of the national team heading to Qatar 2022.
Although Édison Méndez “said that the Ecuadorian team should play at Atahualpa”, the former midfielder believes that the Rodrigo Paz Delgado stadium “suits him” to the national team, where he has played as a local in the qualifiers for the Qatar 2022 World Cup.
“I include myself among those who said that it should be played at Atahualpa (Pichincha Sports Concentration stadium), but Ecuador has shown that the Casa Blanca court suits it well”, Méndez said this Wednesday on the radio station Coverage.
As a player, Kinito (42 years old, retired) is the only one who played in all the absolute world championships in which the Tricolor participated, that is, Korea-Japan 2002, Germany 2006 and Brazil 2014. He also played the qualifier for South Africa 2010 and the 2001, 2004, 2007 and 2011 editions of the Copa América.
Méndez’s statements about the team’s location come a day after Néicer Reasco, also a former international with Ecuador, said that the national team “would be more comfortable” at the Atahualpa stadium.
Both former soccer players wore the tricolor jersey at a time when it was displayed as a local on the field of the El Batán stage. Ecuador normally receives its rivals at the Rodrigo Paz Delgado since the current World Cup qualifier. It has also done so at the Barcelona Sporting Club stadium, in Guayaquil.
‘Brazil does not think about giving itself away’
Méndez also reflected ahead of the match in which Ecuador will receive Brazil at the Liga de Quito stadium for the fifteenth date of the South American qualifier for Qatar: “The Brazilians are not going to come to treat themselves for being classified. They don’t think like that. It will be a five star game. We should not be afraid, we have to play with confidence as they have been doing (the selected ones). Knowing Gustavo Alfaro (coach), he is going to prepare the boys for a serious game. Ecuador has played very well at home, they have tactics, they have technique and they have self-respect, which is what they have shown in recent games”.
Reasco: Ecuador would be more comfortable in Atahualpa
With 23 points in the standings after fourteen presentations, Ecuador can mathematically secure its ticket to Qatar in the matches of the fifteenth and sixteenth dates (antepenultimate) of the qualifier. The Canarinha will be the first rival, while the second will be Peru, next Tuesday, in Lima. (D)
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