Ecuador soccer team to head for Berlin to play Germany

The Ecuador national soccer team will travel to Berlin on Monday to meet Germany on Tuesday, Ecuador's last match in Group A of the World Cup, according to Mexican television channel Televisa on Sunday.

Ecuador, which has six qualification points and a five-point goal difference, began training early on Sunday morning, stopping at mid-day to enjoy a Father's Day barbeque.

Defender Ulises de la Cruz called the children who live in his home town Piquiucho, 120 kms north of Quito.

"They treat me like a father. I told them they must be good with their parents, that they must study and be responsible," the defender told reporters.

Friday and Saturday morning were the Ecuador players' first days of vacation after 27 days away from home. The players spend their time in the city center visiting the Emmanuel restaurant, which has become a rendezvous for both team and supporters alike.

Others visited malls -- looking at clothes, white goods and computers -- and also visited cyber cafes to play electronic games. On Saturday morning they were invited to the main Adidas factory.

Source: Xinhua