The unique timing of the Qatar World Cup certainly puts an extra emphasis on choosing players in form.
Then again, captain and all-time top scorer Enner Valencia would probably still have been included in Ecuador’s starting XI for Sunday’s clash with the home nation even if he’d arrived in the Middle East on the back of a lengthy barren spell at club level.
Ecuador coach Gustavo Alfaro certainly didn’t have to worry about that, however, with Valencia’s opening day double merely a continuation of his remarkable start to the current campaign.
Enner Valencia fires Ecuador to World Cup win over Qatar
“I saw the Ballon d’Or rhetoric on social media and I liked it,” Valencia said recently, his run of 13 goals and four assists in just 12 Super Lig matches for Fenerbahce leading to some admittedly tongue-in-cheek suggestions that an award now on Karim Benzema’s mantelpiece could have been on it’s way to Istanbul.
“I like what our fans have done on social media. Everywhere, they call me ‘GOAT’ now! I’m not called by my first or last name. Everyone uses this nickname. I like it too. If our fans are happy about it, I’m happy too. The love they have shown is incredible!
“They call me ‘Superman’ in Ecuador, they call me GOAT in Turkey.”
Who knows what they call him in Qatar. Something less complimentary, presumably, after the former Everton and West Ham striker – who was a target for Tony Pulis’ West Brom side back in 2016 (The Telegraph) – dashed the any hopes of a winning start for the home nation.
33-year-old Valencia slotted home a stylish early penalty before doubling the lead with a thumping header.
‘A lot more is to come’
“He is the all-time top scorer for Ecuador. He managed to score, which means a lot to him,” Alfaro beamed after Valencia, who earned himself that £12 million to West Ham after impressing in the 2014 World Cup, took his international tally to 37.
“Thank you. Thank you to the fans who came to support us,” Valencia himself beamed; a commanding and classy Ecuador giving their hopes of knockout stage football an almighty shot in the arm.
“I don’t know where so many (fans) came from! I really believe in this group, and it was important to take this first step. (Scoring twice) is a huge joy, I won’t deny it. This team is wonderful, we deserve it and we know a lot more is to come.”
Feed the ‘GOAT’, as they say, and he will score.
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