BAD KISSINGEN, June 21: Ecuador coach Luis Fernando Suarez has achieved one of his ambitions by showing the world another side to South American soccer.

“Historically, when people talk about South American soccer they always talk about Argentina or Brazil but now the world and the press are also talking about Ecuador,” he said on Wednesday. “It is something that makes me very happy.”

Playing in only their second World Cup after their debut in 2002, Ecuador are through to the last 16 for the first time and will play England on Sunday.

Asked if the game would be an “all or nothing” occasion, he said that that would imply they had not already achieved great things in this tournament.

Ecuador came into the World Cup with the suggestion they could only play well at altitude after they won seven of their nine home qualifiers, including victories over Brazil and Argentina, in Quito some 2,800 metres above sea level.—Reuters