Ecuador go face Japan for international friendly inside di September FIFA window. Di match dey set for Yokohama International Stadium. For Ecuador football, dis stadium no be just any ground.
Yokohama International Stadium na where Ecuador win dia first-ever World Cup match for 2002. Dat day, Ecuador beat Croatia 1-0 for dia last Group Stage game. Di result shake di group well well. Croatia, one strong side, crash out for that stage, and e surprise plenty people.
Di second memory for Yokohama come from 2008 FIFA Club World Cup. Liga Deportiva Universitaria de Quito meet Manchester United for di final. Manchester United win with goal from Wayne Rooney. Even with di loss, dat match still stand as di most important game in di history of clubs for Ecuador reach so far.
Now, La Tri dey prepare for anoda friendly for dia Asian tour. E go also be dia debut for Copa Kirin. Expectations high inside di camp. Dem know say Japan no be small opponent.
Midfielder Alan Franco talk about di challenge for press conference. He say Japan be very good national team. For him, facing a side wey don build process for longer time na positive thing for Ecuador. He talk say di game na one to make dem think about big things. He add say dem go take am with di importance wey dey deserve anytime dem wear di country shirt.
Franco no want make people only look Ecuador defence. He want di whole team function as one collective. He talk say with calm mind, Ecuador get good characteristics and good players from defence, midfield and attack. Him focus go beyond one area. He want defensive and offensive parts complement each other so dem do better than before.
Di midfielder also yarn about how e dey with Marcelo Gallardo and di coaching staff. He talk say respect dey, and di players make di staff feel human warmth beyond football. Dem put priority on making coach and him crew comfortable and feel like part of di group. According to Franco, di days dem don spend together help dem start a good relationship from day one.
Enner Valencia no dey di squad again. He step aside. Franco wish am good luck and respect him decision. He still believe say plenty important human material remain for di team to serve as example.
Franco call Enner Valencia dia reference. But he point out say today, some young players get enough qualities to carry leader role. He mention say Ecuador get players for big leagues, players with incredible personality. He no claim say na him go be leader. He talk say work of each player go gradually take him own direction, as dem continue to help. Tomorrow, dem go know who go be new captain of di national team.
