he numbers do not lie. Since
South America introduced its
marathon World Cup qualification
programme in 1996, Ecuador
have picked up a total of 112
points at home but just 36 away.
And the contrast is especially stark in the last two
successful campaigns, those of 2006 and 2014,
where the team made it to Germany and Brazil.
In 2006 the split of points won home and away
was 23-5. In 2014 it was 22-3.
Underpinning this, of course, is the phenomenon
of altitude, with Ecuador playing their home games
at Quito, some 2,800 metres above sea level.
While this may not present the difficulties of La
Paz in Bolivia, which is around 800m higher, the
statistics surely bear out the fact that Quito is a
cause of discomfort for the unacclimatised visitor.
Some feel the effects more than others, but the
overall consequence is that the lack of oxygen in theair reduces a player’s athletic capacity to run as hard
and as often. And then there is the effect on the ball,
which, suffering less resistance, flies through the air
quicker, giving extra potency to long shots and
providing problems for goalkeepers.
There are also problems for coaches who are not
used to the conditions – such as Jordi Cruyff, the new
choice to take charge of Ecuador’s national team.
“It is one thing to read about the effects of
altitude,” said the Dutchman after being presented to
the media. “But you don’t really imagine how much
of a difference it makes. And I’ve noted it over the last
few days. Now I can understand the effects it has on
a player who is not adapted to the conditions, and
this is an important advantage that we have.”
It is a very revealing quote and one that makes
it quite clear that Cruyff is diving into the deep end.
The next version of South America’s fiercely
competitive World Cup qualification campaign kicks
off in March and, for all the glory of his name, Cruyffis a rookie boss. The 46-year-old’s experience is
restricted to quick spells in Israel and China, but he
now steps up to a level at which almost everything
is unknown. Even he cannot know for sure if he is
good enough. He will not know a great deal about
the players at his disposal, or their opponents, and
only now is he discovering the terrain of battle.
He does, however, have some interesting raw
material to work with.
Although Ecuador lost all four games at the recent
continental under-23 championship without scoring
a goal, there are some promising players cominggoals at home in Serie A for the
first time, losing 7-0 to Atalanta.
PORTUGAL: Ricardo Horta gets a
late winner as Braga beat Porto 1-0
to win the Taca da Liga Final.
Sunday January 26
CHINA: Group B of the Asian
Women’s Olympic qualifiers in
February is moved to Australia from
Wuhan, following the outbreak of
Coronavirus. The previous
day’s Super Cup game between
Guangzhou Evergrande and
Shanghai Shenhua was postponed.
ITALY: Lazio’s club record 11-match
winning run ends with a 1-1 draw
against city rivals Roma.
Wednesday January 29
ENGLAND: Everton turn down an
offer of £85m from Barcelona for
Brazilian striker Richarlison.
Thursday January 30
CHINA: The Chinese Football
Association postpones all domestic
football due to the rapidly spreading
coronavirus which has killed up
to 170 people so far, with 7,711
confirmed cases of infection.
Friday January 31
ENGLAND: Only £25m is spent by
Premier League clubs on transfer
deadline day – the lowest figure
since 2010.
Saturday February 1
GERMANY: Borussia Dortmund
beat Union Berlin 5-0 with two
more goals from Erling Haaland
who has now got seven in his
three games for the club.
WALES: Connah’s Quay Nomads
beat Cymru South side STM Sports
3-0 in the Welsh League Cup Final
to secure a place in next season’s
Scottish Challenge Cup.
Sunday February 2
ITALY: With two penalties in
Juventus’ 3-0 victory over
Fiorentina, Cristiano Ronaldo is
on target for a ninth successive
Serie A game and takes his tally to
10 goals in his last six appearances.
SPAIN: Fuenlabrada midfielder
Cristobal Marquez is sent off twice
in his side’s 2-0 defeat against
Girona in the second tier. Shown
a straight red card for a high
challenge, he walked off the pitch,
only to be called back when the
referee looked at the pitchside
monitor and changed his decision
to a yellow. However, before play
could restart Cristobal got into a
confrontation with Girona’s Alex
Granell and both players were
Gambling on
Jordi Cruyff
Federation hoping coach will boost
World Cup qualifying campaign
Future...Ecuador
finished third
at the Under-17
World Cup
in June“You don’t really imagine how much
of a difference it makes...and this is
an important advantage that we have”
Jordi Cruyff on playing at altitudeT
Ecuador
TIM VICKERY