Ecuador seeks to recover several players who came out with physical problems after the game against Brazil.
Ecuador managed to get into the top eight of the America Cup after a respectable draw against Brazil, host team of the tournament. In the quarterfinals the team of Gustavo Alfaro must face Argentina, first classified in group A and for this, according to the newspaper The nation from Argentina, the strategist has ‘difficulties’ to form the eleven that jumps onto the pitch to face Albiceleste, this Saturday in Goiania.
The physical problems in several players who usually make up the star lineup would be one of the problems that Alfaro faces for the duel against Lionel Messi’s team.
“The selector of Ecuador still with difficulties to conform the team that should play for Argentina; with four injured players who have not yet recovered ”, published this Friday the Gaucho newspaper.
Enner Valencia and Jhegson Méndez have worked differently due to muscular fatigue after the game against Brazil. Moisés Caicedo also set off the alarms after being injured in the same match due to a knee injury, produced after 9 minutes of play. They are joined by the skilled winger Gonzalo Plata.
The Sporting Lisbon player suffered a blow to his ankle in the game against Venezuela that forced him to miss against Peru and play undercover during the 18 minutes he was on the field. Damián Díaz also cannot be taken into account for this match since he was positive for COVID-19.
However, the last minute arrival of Carlos Gruezo can help boost the midfield and complement the team’s front row, as the midfielder is a more positional player and provides options for a clean distribution of the ball.
Alfaro’s doubts could be in the midfield. Whether to go out with two midfielders or do it with three. Gruezo could form a trivote with Caicedo and Méndez, Alan Franco could also appear if Caicedo fails to recover. Alfaro can also lean towards two players who do the work of containment, as he has been doing in the Cup.
Ecuador could go out onto the pitch with the following eleven: Hernán Galíndez; Angelo Preciado, Robert Arboleda, Piero Hincapié, Diego Palacios; Carlos Gruezo, Jhegson Méndez, Ángel Mena, Pervis Estupiñán, Enner Valencia, Michael Estrada.
Ecuador will face Argentina for the quarterfinals of the Copa América this Saturday from 8:00 p.m. (from Ecuador, Colombia and Peru).
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