QUITO, June 9 (Xinhua) -- Ecuador made a last-minute replacement to their 2014 World Cup squad since Segundo Castillo suffered injury in previous warm-up match, local media reported on Monday.
Chivas USA midfielder Oswaldo Minda has been called up by coach Reinaldo Rueda in Castillo's place for the tournament starting on Thursday.
The 32-year-old Castillo, who now serves at Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia, is a veteran midfielder who played for Ecuador at the 2006 World Cup in Germany. He has failed to recover from a knee injury in a tackle with Mexico's Lius Montes during a friendly in Arlington, Texas on May 31.
It was a last minute call after new trials and an MRI revealed that Castle "is not fit" to play in the World Cup by a severe sprain, said the Ecuadorian Football Federation (FEF).
Minda made his international debut for Ecuador in 2008 and was a member of the 2011 Copa America side. Minda, who plays the same defensive midfield role as Castillo, was originally on Tri's 30-man preliminary roster before being cut by Reinaldo Rueda.
The team traveled today from Quito to Brazilian city Viamao, 30 kilometers from Porto Alegre, where training center for their participation is located, according to the FEF.
The father of Christian "Chucho" Benitez also accompanied the delegation and wished a success to Tri in its participation in the World Cup. He said that he feels the absence of his son, but "we are very confident that Ecuador can spring a surprise, and our selection will give us a joy to all Ecuadorians." Benitez, Ecuador's deceased top scorer, died suddenly last July by a heart attack in Qatar.
Tricolor will debut in the tournament on June 15 against Switzerland. Ecuador will also face Honduras and France in Group E of the 2014 Brazil World Cup, which takes place from June 12 to July 13.