Suarez demands respect for Ecuador's underdogs

No, the Ecuador coach Luis Fernando Suarez retorted sharply, before honing his players for Sunday's second-round match against England in Stuttgart with a lengthy training session under a fiery sun here, he had no regrets about omitting out five key personnel against Germany in their final group match.

"I should have left out nine," he declared wryly. "I should have kept just the goalkeeper [Cristian Mora] and defender Ulises de la Cruz, who is short of match fitness."

The suggestion implicit in his action, and his words, is that he regards a mercurial England as more susceptible to his progressive team's talents than Jürgen Klinsmann's men. Not necessarily so. The Colombian-born coach was in no such provocative mood yesterday. "It's the best England team there's been in recent years," he insisted. "England have the two best central defenders in this World Cup and a sophisticated midfield."

Both those opinions, after Tuesday night's England performance, may be debatable. But what was apparent from both the Ecuador coach and his players was that, having already been certain of qualification ahead of the Germany game, Sunday's match will be contested by a refreshed and fit team, one that will not be weakened by suspension.

The contrast between the teams could not be more pronounced. Sven Goran Eriksson reportedly earns more in one week than Suarez does in a year. Yet, while doubts persist about the Swede's ability to produce a consistent, winning team, let alone one capable of lifting the World Cup, Suarez is revered in his adopted land.

Yet, if qualifying for the second round for the first time could be regarded as Ecuador's "World Cup final", they do not take kindly to such platitudes.

Thus, when someone spoke of this being "the game of his players' lives", he rebuked them. "When you say that it suggests that we have achieved nothing so far. But that's not true. It has been a historic achievement so far." But what would a defeat of England mean to Ecuador? "To show the world that Ecuador can win, and not just at altitude," said Suarez, whose success can be linked to talks he had before the tournament with the Manchester United assistant manager, Carlos Queiroz, and a trip to United's Carrington training ground.

"But that's not my primary goal," he added. "That is for the world to talk about Ecuador football. Historically, when people talk about South American football, they mean Argentina and Brazil. Now we have a piece of the cake, too."

Beckham and his men will be confronted by players possessing some intriguing epithets. Amongst them: Kangaroo, Little Devil, Bam Bam, Long Legs, Tin, New Hands and The Infallible. One who does not, Ivan Kaviedes, may be recalled from a dismal period at Crystal Palace when they were in the Premiership. He is adamant that Ecuador will be in relaxed mood. "We're calm," he said. "The important goal has already been achieved. This team is mature enough to learn from mistakes."

Any England complacency, any perception that this is a virtual bye, will be dealt with brutally. "I would have thought Sweden would have said the same," Suarez admitted when it was put to him that England were relived to avoid Germany. "It is logical in football that people think that. Everyone will say that Ecuador is easier to beat, but..." The pause spoke volumes.