WORLD CUP 2006
Ecuador Interview: Player - Cristian Lara
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What do you remember about watching World Cups when you were a boy?
Ecuador were never there, so I had to find other countries to support. Brazil and Holland were my teams. I was a bit young for Maradona in 1986, so it was really from 1990 on that I started paying attention, watching and learning and dreaming of being there one day.
Now your chance is coming. How do you feel?
It’s a source of huge pride, and I can’t wait to get out there, because this isn’t something that happens every day. Before the competition starts there’s always a touch of anxiety, but I think this will disappear once we get started.
Do you follow European football?
These days we can see plenty of European football on TV, both the Champions League and some of the domestic leagues. I watch a lot of it. English football is very popular in Ecuador at the moment. It’s of an excellent standard, but for my taste it places too much emphasis on strength and long balls. My favourite is the Spanish League. It’s given lots of South Americans the chance to show what they can do.
Has the physical development of football made things harder for a player of your small size and slight build?
There’s no doubt about it. Increasing emphasis is being placed on size and strength. But there will always be a place for ability. I try to overcome the power of my opponents with skill
and intelligence.
Coach Suarez sees you as a second-half substitute, best used against tiring opponents. Are you happy with this role?
I always work with the aim of being in the starting XI, to make myself important to the team and ensure that I figure in the plans of the coach. If I’m seen as a second-half substitute then it’s my job to do it well, and if I come on and make an impact, then that’s the best case I can make for myself to show I deserve to be considered for a place in the starting line-up.
Do you hope that appearing in the World Cup will help you secure a move abroad?
Any international tournament is a shop window because it gives you the chance to show that you can play at that level. That’s true about the Libertadores Cup, and even more so about the World Cup. I believe I’m going through the best phase of my career so far, but I know that I can do a lot more, that I’m capable of going on to achieve big things. I want to take
full advantage of our timein Germany.
Ecuador Squad
1 GK VILLAFUERTE Edwin - (Deportivo Quito, ECU)
2 DF GUAGUA Jorge - (El Nacional, ECU)
3 DF HURTADO Ivan - (Al Arabi, QAT)
4 DF DE LA CRUZ Ulises - (Aston Villa, ENG)
5 DF PERLAZA Jose - (Olmedo, ECU)
6 MF URRUTIA Patricio - (LDU Quito, ECU)
7 MF LARA Christian - (El Nacional, ECU)
8 MF MENDEZ Edison - (LDU Quito, ECU)
9 FW BORJA Felix - (El Nacional, ECU)
10 FW KAVIEDES Ivan - (Argentinos Juniors, ARG)
11 FW DELGADO Agustin - (LDU Quito, ECU)
12 GK MORA Cristian - (LDU Quito, ECU)
13 DF AMBROSSI Paul - (LDU Quito, ECU)
14 MF CASTILLO Segundo - (El Nacional, ECU)
15 MF AYOVI Marlon - (Deportivo Quito, ECU)
16 MF VALENCIA Luis - (Recreativo Huelva, ESP)
17 DF ESPINOZA Giovanny - (LDU Quito, ECU)
18 DF REASCO Neicer - (LDU Quito, ECU)
19 MF SARITAMA Luis - (Deportivo Quito, ECU)
20 MF TENORIO Edwin - (Barcelona, ECU)
21 FW TENORIO Carlos - (Al Sadd, QAT)
22 GK LANZA Damian - (Aucas, ECU)
23 FW BENITEZ Christian - (El Nacional, ECU)
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