SOCCER: Defenders Pacho, Hincapie headline Ecuador World Cup squad

Paris Saint-Germain defender Willian Pacho faced Arsenal’s Piero Hincapie in the UEFA Champions League final on Saturday, but the two centre-backs will soon line up on the same side after being named in Ecuador’s squad for the upcoming World Cup by coach Sebastián Beccacece.

AC Milan fullback Pervis Estupiñán has also been included in the squad, while Chelsea defensive midfielder Moisés Caicedo adds strength and balance in front of the back line.

Caicedo is eligible for Ecuador’s opening World Cup match against Ivory Coast on June 14 after FIFA last month amended its rules regarding minor suspensions picked up during qualifiers.

Leading Ecuador’s attack is 36-year-old captain Enner Valencia, the nation’s all-time top scorer with 49 goals in 105 appearances. Valencia will feature in his third World Cup and will look to add to his six-goal tally in football’s premier tournament.

The World Cup, hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada from June 11 to July 19, will see Ecuador compete in Group E. The team will also face Curaçao on June 20 and Germany five days later in their group-stage fixtures.

Ecuador are set to play a warm-up match against Guatemala on Sunday as they continue their preparations for their fifth World Cup appearance. Their best finish came in 2006, when they reached the round of 16 in Germany before losing to England.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Hernán Galíndez, Moisés Ramírez, Gonzalo Valle

Defenders: Piero Hincapié, Willian Pacho, Pervis Estupiñán, Félix Torres, Joel Ordóñez, Jackson Porozo, Angelo Preciado

Midfielders: Moisés Caicedo, Alan Franco, Kendry Páez, Pedro Vite, Jordy Alcívar, Denil Castillo, Yaimar Medina

Forwards: Enner Valencia, Gonzalo Plata, Alan Minda, John Yeboah, Kevin Rodríguez, Jordy Caicedo, Nilson Angulo, Anthony Valencia, Jeremy Arévalo -Reporting by Aadi Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Rutherford/Reuters