The Ecuador national team held a training session on Tuesday under Argentine coach Marcelo Gallardo. The squad is preparing in Yokohama for their friendly against Japan, part of the Kirin Cup and marking their return to the tournament after a long absence.
This match will serve as an opportunity for La Tri to seek better form after a tough run of results. Their last outing was a defeat to South Korea.
Return to the Kirin Cup
Ecuador's appearance in the Kirin Cup is only their second in history. The previous one was in 1995, when the national team lost both of its matches. The sole Ecuadorian goal in that edition was scored by Eduardo 'Tanque' Hurtado, the nation's third-highest all-time scorer. This is the same venue where the Ecuadorians defeated Croatia in a World Cup group stage match.
Wednesday's match will be the sixth meeting between the two sides. Of the previous five, Japan has two wins, Ecuador has one, and there have been two draws. The most recent ended without goals.
Following the Japan game, Ecuador will play another match in this FIFA window, against either Panama or New Zealand. The national team's schedule can be viewed on our fixtures page. The full squad list is available in the squad section.
The team has a press conference scheduled for Wednesday, followed by an official training session at Yokohama International Stadium.
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