In an “even” tie, the matches are resolved by “details,” said Ecuador coach Sebastián Beccacece, who points to a highly contested match against Paraguay, this Thursday in Quito (4:00 p.m.), a team that resurfaced in the last two dates of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
“We have worked in every detail, from the individual, the collective, in the field and in the talks. What they are looking for is that they continue with that intensity to work, as they do in their clubs, without excuses for the flight hours, because they know that for the country you have to be willing, the players know that when they step foot in the National Team House you have to work with intensity, put your body and soul into it”; said Beccacece.
The coach hopes to show dominance on the court, repeating what La Tri did against Peru (1-0). “As a team we aspire to have more dominance, but it is also true that it is more complicated to resolve when a team retreats, but there is a double risk to assume and we have to be prepared for that too because if we have to dominate we prepare for that, but if the rival dominates us, we must also be prepared to resolve. “We want to dominate and for that we have to take charge of the game and take the initiative,” he indicated.
In Paraguay, there is a lot of knowledge of what Ecuador is, of its players, of the intensity that it proposes in Quito to take advantage of the 2,800 meters of altitude, but above all because now Gustavo Alfaro, a coach who qualified with the Tri at the Qatar 2022 World Cup.
The Argentine came to change the face of Albirroja and with four points in two games he has the Paraguayans excited to reach the 2026 World Cup.
“The most important thing is that we managed to recover our game identity, the strong brand, not giving up in any game, and that is making us increasingly stronger,” said goalkeeper Roberto Fernández, starter in the Guaraní goal.
“It will be a difficult match like all of them in the qualifying round, but we come prepared and with the hope of achieving a good result, of adding points, if possible all three, to move forward, calm on this path to the World Cup,” he said. (D)