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World Cup: Ecuadoreans freezing up ahead of Group A games

The unseasonably cold weather in Germany has had its effect on Ecuador's World Cup team.

Four players have gotten colds since arriving in Europe -- Edwin Tenorio, Edison Mendez, Jose Luis Perlaza and Patricio Urrutia.

The team led by coach Luis Fernandez Suarez also has to worry about some old injuries.

"The team was not only affected by the injuries but also by the climate, the temperature," Ecuador team doctor Ruben Santamaria said on Sunday.

"Sometimes it has been less than 4?C. We did not expect these conditions," he said.

Ulises de la Cruz, Agustin Delgado and Carlos Tenorio sat out of Sunday's practice, hoping to get ready for the team's first Group A match against Poland on Friday. Germany and Costa Rica also await Ecuador.

Neicer Reasco stood in for De la Cruz, while Cristian Benitez replaced Delgado, and Ivan Kaviedes took over for Carlos Tenorio, who hurt his foot in Ecuador's World Cup warmup loss to Macedonia.

Defender Ivan Hurtado was also injured in the match against Macedonia, hurting his left hip and later adding digestive problems. He was able to practice on Sunday, however.

Delgado has problems with his left knee, and the persistent rain has damaged the practice field, making it more difficult for him to move without pain.

But despite the injury worries, Santamaria said he thinks Suarez will have all 23 players on his roster ready for the match against Poland, which has had its own problems and is experimenting with its team formation.

Ecuador finished third in South American qualifying, behind defending World Cup champion Brazil and Argentina.
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