ECUADOR : PLAYERS TO WATCH
Although coach Luis Fernandez Suarez overhauled the
Ecuador roster, but one of the veterans he did not dump
was 31-year-old central defender Ivan Hurtado (127 international
appearances), who has participated in an incredible
57 qualifiers. Moreover, he is a leader -- team captain
and calm when the pressure is on -- and organizes the
backline. Versatile midfielder Edison Mendez, who is
expected to be the fulcrum of the attack in the middle,
also can play on the outside. Forward Agustin Delgado
is the country's all-time scorer (29 goals in 67 appearances
through the winter). But will he be able to fill the
net come June? He has fallen out with his Ecuadorean
club, Barcelona (of Guayaquil) and his fitness certainly
will be in question. He has had to overcome back problems
as well.
ROSTER
Goalkeepers: Edwin Villafuerte (Deportivo Quito), Cristian
Mora (Liga de Quito), Damian Lanza (Aucas)
Defenders: Ivan Hurtado (Al Arabi, Qatar), Geovanny
Espinoza (Liga de Quito), Paul Ambrossi (Liga de Quito),
Neicer Reasco (Liga de Quito), Ulises de la Cruz (Aston
Villa, England), Jorge Guagua (El Nacional), Jose Luis
Perlaza (Olmedo)
Midfielders: Marlon Ayovi (Deportivo Quito), Edwin Tenorio
(Barcelona), Edison Mendez (Liga de Quito), Patricio
Urrutia (Liga de Quito), Cristian Lara (El Nacional),
Segundo Castillo (El Nacional), Antonio Valencia (Recreativo
Huelva, Spain), Luis Saritama (Deportivo Quito)
Forwards: Felix Borja (El Nacional), Christian Benitez
(El Nacional), Ivan Kaviedes (Argentinos Juniors, Argentina),
Agustin Delgado (Liga de Quito), Carlos Tenorio (Al
Sadd, Qatar)
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