Ecuador's national team prepares for its first challenge under Marcelo Gallardo, a friendly against Japan in the Kirin Cup this Thursday at 05:10 local time at Yokohama International Stadium. The Argentine coach, officially presented on September 17, aims to lay the foundations for a new cycle following the departure of key figures and a recent 3-0 loss to South Korea.
Gallardo had no time for a full team practice before that match, but these extra days in Japan have allowed him to better understand the group and convey his ideas.
The approach against Japan
The strategist, nicknamed 'Muñeco', did not reveal the starting lineup at Wednesday's press conference, stating he would finalize it after the final training session. He underlined that versatility will be key in both player selection and tactical approach. "We are going to play as equals against a very good Japanese team at home," Gallardo said. He acknowledged the opponent's solidity, with eight years of sustained work under the same coach and a standout performance in the last World Cup, but urged his team to seek protagonism.
Gallardo also expressed his respect for Japan's coach, Hajime Moriyasu. "I have a lot of respect for their coach." he recalled.
A team in transition
Ecuador faces this cycle without its historic captain and top scorer, Enner Valencia, who retired from the national team. Midfielder Alan Franco mentioned that several teammates are ready to assume leadership in his absence. Also, the team travels to Asia without key pieces like Moisés Caicedo, Piero Hincapié and Kevin Rodríguez for this friendly window.
The match will be broadcast on open signal by TC Televisión and Teleamazonas. After the clash with Japan, La Tri is scheduled to face either Panama or New Zealand next Monday, completing its participation in the tournament. Fans can follow the team's progress and check the full schedule on our fixtures page, while squad data is available on squad.
Read the full report at El Universo Deportes
