Surprise names in Ecuador roster for World Cup warmup at Netherlands
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Fortuna Duesseldorf defender Cristian Ramirez and Stuttgart midfielder Carlos Gruezo are among the surprise selections on Ecuador's roster for its World Cup warmup against the Netherlands in Amsterdam on May 17.
Coach Reinaldo Rueda also picked midfielder Fernando Saritama, who has played sparingly in Ecuador's league, and Tijuana forward Jaime Ayovi.
Ecuador's final warmup is against England at Miami Gardens, Florida, on June 7.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The 24-man squad announced Tuesday exposes Rueda's concern with the defense, which has struggled with regular starters Jorge Guagua, Walter Ayovi and Gabriel Achilier.
Ecuador is Group E at the World Cup and opens against Switzerland in June 15. France and Honduras also are in the group.
The roster:
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Goalkeepers: Maximo Banguera (Barcelona, Ecuador), Adrian Bone (El Nacional), Alexander Dominguez (Liga de Quito)
Defenders: Gabriel Achilier (Emelec), Walter Ayovi (Pachuca, Mexico), Oscar Bagui (Emelec), Frickson Erazo (Flamengo, Brazil), Jorge Guagua (Emelec), Juan Carlos Paredes (Barcelona, Ecuador), Cristian Ramirez (Fortuna Duesseldorf, Germany)
Midfielders: Segundo Castillo (Al Hilal, Saudi Arabia ), Carlos Gruezo (Stuttgart, Germany), Renato Ibarra (Vitesse Arnhem, Netherlands), Fidel Martinez (Tijuana, Mexico), Cristian Noboa (Dynamo Moscow, Russia), Pedro Quinonez (Emelec), Luis Saritama (Barcelona, Ecuador), Antonio Valencia (Manchester United, England)
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Forwards: Jaime Ayovi (Tijuana, Mexico). Felipe Caicedo (Al-Jazira, United Arab Emirates), Jefferson Montero (Morelia, Mexico), Joao Rojas (Cruz Azul, Mexico), Enner Valencia (Pachuca, Mexico), Armando Wila (Universidad Catolica, Chile)