Ecuador squad travels for friendlies against Mexico, Canada and Greece

QUITO, May 24, 2011 (AFP) - The national team of Ecuadorian football traveled on Tuesday to the United States for the friendly against Mexico on Saturday, and against  Greece on June 7, on a tour that also includes a game against Canada on June 1 in Toronto.

Under the command of the Colombian coach Reinaldo Rueda, the "Tricolor" squad has departed to Seattle, host of the match against the Mexican team, which will open a new cycle of preparation for the Copa America in Argentina-2011.

Ecuadoreans soon will travel to Toronto to play against Canada and close the cycle in New York facing the Greek team.

The defender Jorge Guagua, leader of the LDU, cannot go because of a muscle problem in his right leg and will not be replaced, confirmed the Ecuadorian Football Federation (FEF).

The organization also said the striker Felipe Caicedo of Levante from Spain and midfielder Antonio Valencia, of Manchester United from England, will play only the friendly against Greece.

Valencia will lose the other two games due to Champions League final in Europe, taking place this Saturday against Barcelona of Spain in London, after winning the Premier League.

Midfielder Cristian Noboa (Rubin Kazan, Russia) and striker João Plata (Toronto, USA) will not play against Mexico and will join the squad in Canada, due to no permission from their clubs.

Check the Ecuadorians list:
Goalkeepers: Marcelo Elizaga (Deportivo Quito), Máximo Banguera (Barcelona), Alexander Domínguez (LDU).
Defenders: Juan Carlos Paredes (Deportivo Quito), Néicer Reasco (LDU), Giovanni Caicedo (LDU), Diego Calderón (LDU), Luis Checa (Deportivo Quito), Frickson Erazo (El Nacional), Walter Ayoví (Monterrey, Mexico).
Midfielders: Segundo Castillo (Deportivo Quito), Oswaldo Tilson Minda (Deportivo Quito), Luis Fernando Saritama (Deportivo Quito), Michael Arroyo (San Luis, Mexico), Flavio Caicedo (El Nacional), Edison Méndez (Emelec) Cristian Noboa (Rubín Kazán, Russia), Luis Antonio Valencia (Manchester United, England).
Strikers: Jaime Ayoví (Toluca, Mexico), Cristian Benítez (Santos, Mexico), Felipe Caicedo (Levante, Spain), João Plata (Toronto, MLS-Canada).

Posted in: Ecuador