INTERNATIONAL: Heading into Thursday's, January 27, match against Brazil, Ecuador's head coach is concerned with his squad's lack of rhythm. Coach Gustavo Alfaro has hinted at his players' lack of starts as a disadvantage against those from the Brazilian squad, where every player is "rolling" in leagues across the world.

He says; "An important part of our squad is not competing. We have most of our players in the local scene.” Adding to the team's challenges, the government has prohibited attendance for the match, a decision Ecuador's Football Federation President, Francisco Egas, is asking to overturn.

Ecuador is currently on third place in the qualifying table, with 23 points, ahead of Colombia and Peru, each with 17 points. Brazil have qualified for the Qatar World Cup and top the 10-team South American group with five matches remaining.

^{PHOTO: ECUADOR'S NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM TRAINING/ SOUNDBITES FROM HEAD COACH GUSTAVO ALFARO, ECUADOREAN FOOTBALL FEDERATION PRESIDENT, FRANCISCO EGAS, AND RIGHT WINGER, ANGEL MENA}