Ecuador: Third ranked in South America behind Brazil and Argentina

Many years and many qualifications for football World Cups have passed with Ecuador playing a minor role. Their opponents often breathed sighs of relief when they met the country from South America’s north-west. Ecuador was considered easy game and certain points. However, when the qualification for the 2002 FIFA World Cup got underway, everything changed. To the surprise of everybody, Ecuador finished the round in second place, ahead even of eventual World Cup champions Brazil, and made the finals in Japan and South Korea. And in the summer of 2006, the “Tricolor” will again travel to the FIFA World Cup, this time in Germany. They finished the South American qualifications in third position, six points behind Brazil and Argentina.

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Ecuador, with an economy depending strongly on exports (particularly crude oil and bananas), has 12 million inhabitants. Most of them were watching TV on October 8, 2005. The team coached by Luis Fernando Suárez needed one point in their home-match against Uruguay to qualify for the World Cup. After the game, the millions in front of their TV sets and the crowds at Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa had every reason to celebrate. A goalless draw got the Ecuadorian team the point they needed to qualify prematurely. The final qualifier in Chile was of no importance for the “Tri”, and that was just as well.

Because there is a world of difference between Ecuador’s performances at home, and abroad. The yellow-blue-reds achieved 23 of their 28 points in the qualifications at home. They even defeated the two major South American teams: World Cup champions Brazil were beaten 1-0 in November 2004, and Argentina 2-0 in June 2005. But they lost their first five away matches, mostly, however by just one goal, as in Brazil and Argentina (both 1-0). Whoever is seeking the reason for Ecuador’s strength at home, should consult an atlas. Atahualpa Stadium in the capital Quito is located at an altitude of 2,850 metres.

“We do not deny that the altitude has a certain influence”, national coach Suárez admits. But he argues vehemently that the geographical location is the only reason for the rise of Ecuadorian football. “The team showed an excellent attitude in the matches. We came this far because we are a good team, able to equal any opponent”.

Colombian Suárez has been coaching the “Tricolor” since mid-2004. He succeeded his friend and fellow-countryman Hernán Darío Gómez after a disastrous Copa America, with three defeats in three matches. Gómez will, however, maintain a favourable reputation in Ecuador, for he led the national side to a World Cup finals for the first time ever. Though his methods were a bit unusual, they were so successful that Suárez has continued in the same vein. He, too, often calls his players together at the Escuela Superior Militar. There at the military school near Quito strict discipline is mandatory. The drill is paying off.

Ecuador not only play with more discipline, the self-confidence has also increased. “In the past we feared Brazil, today we know that we can beat them”, striker Agustín Delgado says. But the players also realise that on bad days they can lose to much weaker teams, particularly abroad.

Before the 2006 World Cup, it will be vital for Suárez to drum into the players that they are also capable of a great performance when they do not play at the altitude of Quito. After the successful qualification, the coach said: “The outstanding performances need not be restricted to South America. Our story of success may not stop here. I promise now that we shall make every effort to get far at the World Cup, and so represent our country in style”.

At the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea, the debutants had to learn the hard way. But they could leave for home with their heads held high, because after defeats by Italy (2-0) and Mexico (2-1) they achieved their history-making first World Cup finals victory by beating Croatia 1-0. Logically their aim for 2006 is to increase the number of victories. It will be the last big tournament for the so-called Golden Generation, to which, among others, Delgado belongs – a player who earned his money in the English Premier League with Southampton FC until 2004. A change of generation has already been prompted by Suárez. Younger players such as Christian Lara, Luis Valencia and striker Franklin Salas were incorporated in a well-tested framework. The entire team now want to prove that the rise of Ecuadorian football will continue, even if the air is not so rare…