Félix Sánchez,”excited” to lead Ecuador against “a strong group” in the Copa América

Quito, Dec 7 (EFE).- Ecuador’s coach, the Spanish Félix Sánchez, said he felt “excited” after learning that he will face Mexico, Venezuela and Jamaica in Group B in the next Copa América in Group B, which he described as strong. something that was already expected by the possible rivals in the draw.

“Now to study the rivals, to compete, with the hope of having a good tournament and to compete to go as far as possible,” Sánchez said in statements to El Canal Del Fútbol, ​​after the draw for the tournament, which will be held in the United States.

Ecuador will begin the tournament against Venezuela on June 22, 2024 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara (California), will continue with Jamaica on June 26 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas (Nevada) and will close the group stage against Mexico in the State Farm Stadium, Glendale (Arizona).

Regarding Mexico, the ‘Tri’ coach pointed out that “as always, it is one of the favorites of the tournament and will try to go far in the competition.”

Regarding Venezuela, Sánchez recalled that they faced Vinotinto last month in the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, where they managed to get a goalless draw in Maturín.

“They are a tough opponent who is in a good moment, but it will be in a different scenario, on a neutral field, and we are confident of competing well,” said the Catalan coach.

For Sánchez, “the most unknown” is Jamaica, but he warned that it will not be an easy opponent, since “physically it is very strong and has qualified by leaving out Canada.”

The coach indicated that the friendly matches for the double FIFA date in March are almost closed and probably one of them will be European, so they do not have much room to change.

In the June friendlies they will seek to face teams similar to the Copa América rivals, on which he said they will begin working from this moment.

Sánchez, who has been criticized for the play of the Ecuadorian team despite having achieved eleven points out of a possible eighteen in the first six rounds of the qualifiers, will go to the Copa América with the mission of breaking the bad streak of performances of the ‘Tri ‘ in that tournament, where he has not reached the semifinals since 1993.