Ecuador's Coach: "We Can Win"

Suarez is at his second World Cup championship and Ecuador has already rewritten its national soccer history by making it to the second stage. Not only have they made it, they've well exceeded expectations: Two games, two victories, five goals scored, zero goals surrendered and impressive performances both times. Ecuador's next opponent is Germany, the host country. Suarez is the man behind the Ecuadorian miracle.

DW-WORLD.DE: Congratulations Mr. Suarez! Ecuador has qualified early for the next round of the World Cup.

Suarez: Thank you, yes, we are all very happy with what we've done so far here in Germany.

No one was really expecting that.

I was…I always knew we would make it. I trust the team. It's a matter of course for me that we're now in the next round. That's why we're here, that's why we came to Germany.

Ecuador's soccer history has been rewritten.

That's completely unimportant to me right now. Yes, of course Ecuador's soccer history looks different now, but we're living in the present and at the moment I'd like to dedicate our time to the present. Before we think about the past we have to concentrate on the present, and on the future.

How did the team celebrate their advancement to the second round?

Celebrate? No, we didn't have anything to celebrate because we didn't win anything. We took one step forward, nothing more.

But you must be happy about it.

That's something different. Certainly we let out our elation in the locker rooms and our emotions ran free, but we didn't have a party. We ate together, the mood was excellent, and by 11 p.m. we were all in bed. The players needed to rest -- we have an important game on Tuesday.

Against Germany.

A team that has surprised me very positively. They were one of my favorites before the World Cup, now they're at the very top of my list.

Why?

Because they're always looking for victory, because they never give up, because they fight for the whole 90 minutes, because they always attack with everything they've got. Germany has shown that they're determined to win the title.

But Tuesday's game isn't so important because both teams have already qualified for the next round.

Don't be mistaken. Ecuador wants to win, and so does Germany. We both want the three points, not out of necessity but on principle. The game is going to have a great backdrop. In Berlin, the hosts want to offer their fans only the finest. And we want to finally confirm that it's no coincidence that we've made it to the next round.

In the second round, Ecuador will take on either England or Sweden.

I've seen both teams and have determined that there's not such a big difference between the two. Ecuador can beat both of them.

Why are you so sure?

I don't want to underestimate any opponent, but I'm not going to over-estimate them, either. Ecuador has to continue what they've been doing: concentrating on themselves, keeping a positive attitude, relying on their capabilities, giving everything on the soccer field. We have respect for England and for Sweden -- but we have everything going for us. We can win, we can make it to the next round.

And then you will have reached your personal goal, the quarter finals.

That's what I said and I still believe it. We define the size of our dreams ourselves, and that is my dream right now.

Are you satisfied with your team?

Yes, things are going well. They have proved their excellent tactics and technical discipline and that is very good. There's always something that can be improved, but we're working on those as well.

Mr. Suarez, thank you very much for your time. We'll see each other again in Berlin.

Yes, and maybe not just this Tuesday.

Daniel Martinez interviewed Luis Fernando Suarez (kjb)