GUAYAQUIL, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) — Ecuador national team manager Sebastian Beccacece said Thursday he will treat the side’s last two FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Paraguay and Argentina as a chance to fine-tune preparations for football’s showpiece event.
Ecuador is currently second in the 10-team South American qualifying group and has already secured a place at next year’s tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
“If winning helps us going into the World Cup group draw, great. But the important thing is that if we manage that, it will help us aim for what we’ll be looking for in every match at the World Cup,” Beccacece told a news conference.
Ecuador will visit Paraguay in Asuncion on September 4 before hosting Argentina in Guayaquil five days later.
The fixtures will allow Beccacece to test tactical variations and assess player combinations before finalizing his squad for the tournament.
“During the World Cup, we will face major powers but we want to surprise them,” said Beccacece, who has led Ecuador to four wins, five draws and one defeat since his appointment last August.
“The love for the qualifying process has been fundamental,” the Argentine said.
“I think we have more youth than experience and that has meant our players have had to grow quickly. It hasn’t been easy for them but they’ve managed to excel,” he added. ■
