Equador Fear Rooney
As England prepare to take on his team the Equador coach Luis Fernando Suarez believes his side can cause an upset if they can keep Wayne Rooney quiet.
Suarez has targeted the England striker as the man his team must stop if they are to reach the quarter-finals of the tournament in Germany.
“We must pay attention to him because he can make a difference at any moment,” said Suarez.
“If they play at the level they have been playing at we can win.”
But it is the threat posed by Rooney that has featured most in Ecuador’s preparations.
“He’s very fast and it’s difficult to disturb his movements with or without the ball.”
And while England’s performances so far have not impressed the Ecuador boss he is very aware that they have the ability to improve.
“With such talented players you can always see them producing a good performance. Brazil were pretty quiet in their first two matches but improved against Japan.”
Midfielder Edson Mendez is Ecuador’s only fitness doubt with a muscle strain but strikers Carlos Tenorio and Agustin Delgado, along with captain Ivan Hurtado and midfielder Segundo Castillo are all set to return.
Delgado, who had an unsuccessful spell with Southampton, has scored twice in the tournament so far and will retire from international football after the World Cup.
“You have to give way to the youngsters on the way up. And playing for the national side takes too much out of you, demands too much time and travelling around. I’ll not continue beyond the World Cup.”
