Jordy Cruyff is called on to save the Ecuadorian team by herself, but makes it clear that the road to success is even longer • "He has no idea about our football," a local commentator explained how difficult the Dutch mission was

• Cruyff is featured in the Ecuadorian team. Family attribution will not help

  Photo:

  Reuters

The Ecuadorian Football Association decided this week that it was time to stop acting like Ecuador. The failure to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup and the FIFA Cup 2019 was too much, leading to the conclusion that this is the moment to change direction.

So where did they go? Of course to Europe. In the ceremony that met the standards of the old continent, the new logo and new project of all the teams were presented, revealing the people who will stand in front of the pretentious revolution. Highlight: The Dutch national men's coach was appointed with the most Dutch last name available. Cruyff, Jordy Cruyff.

"I'm not my father," Jordi emphasized at the opening of the first press conference, as if a resume that includes the Maccabi and Chongqing Lifan does not betray it. "If anyone here thinks I will succeed like him," he added, "then this romance is not Lucky for Jordy, before he represents his last name, he represents the continent from which he came.

In the year when the Libertadores champion is Georges Flemango's Portuguese jesus and the Sudamerican champion is the Spaniard of Independent Del Ezza and Miguel Angel Ramires, every European is a calculated gamble in South America. In fact, Ecuador was trying to get Jurgen Klinsman to favor Herta Berlin, which left Jordi as the best available European option. His recommendation was given by Antonio Cordon, the new professional manager of Ecuador, who worked with the Dutchman in China and was impressed: "I know him well, and he comes here to work hard."

to do homework

Hard work is an accurate description of what awaits Cruyff. Ecuador has been in retreat in recent years, and the Dutchman's mission will be to integrate the young generation that reached the final of the World Cup semi-finals, and return it to the World Cup.

Ecuador's only European coach to date - the Serbian Dooshan Dershkovich he coached from 1988-1993 - is considered one of the forefathers of the country's football revolution, having traversed it longitudinally and wide, discovering remote places that have spawned big stars. Cruyff will no longer be able to do this, but expect him to follow the players scattered around the world and get to know the local soccer team. With only three months left until the World Cup qualifier against Argentina, one can understand why some are not sure it will work. "He has a tremendous last name," a senior commentator wrote; "But he has no idea about our football."

Cruyff is shown. Will he be able to save South America's freckles? // Photo: AP

It's hard not to agree with that assertion. The gaps between European and South American football are great, and they are even bigger at the national level. Early South America is unlike anything else, both in terms of number of games and in terms of travel and stadiums. Ecuador is a great home team thanks to Quito's height, but outside it is not a small freckle. Cruyff, who has yet to prove himself at the high levels as a coach, needs to bridge those gaps in ability, produce a strong and stable team and give it the scents of Europe.

Until recently, Ecuador has been the symbol of my mess with conductors who go back and unprofessional summons, and the Dutch - because of his family and country of birth - is supposed to deliver results, quiet, a project and many other things of high European standards. Is he capable of that? Not at all sure. But then, at least in Ecuador, he won't be his father's son anymore.