QUITO, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- Ecuador manager Felix Sanchez has urged his players to adopt a combative mindset against Colombia when the teams meet in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier here on Tuesday.

The Tricolor has begun the South American zone qualifying campaign with two wins and a defeat while Colombia has one victory and two draws so far.

"We're only thinking about picking up three points so we will try to impose ourselves," Sanchez told a news conference on Monday.

"Colombia is a very strong opponent. They are dynamic and have players that can make a difference in attack. We'll need to be at our best to get the result that we want."

The last time these teams met in Quito was in 2020, when the hosts romped to a 6-1 home win en route the qualifying for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

But Sanchez said that result had not been discussed in his team's preparation for the clash at La Casa Blanca in Ecuador's capital.

"The past is the past, now we have to focus on what we have to do to win this match," he said.

"It will be a tough game. We will have to use all of the resources at our disposal to try to play the game the way we want to and keep working towards our goal of qualifying for the World Cup."

Despite their impressive start to South America's qualifiers, Ecuador is seventh in the 10-team group, having been docked three points for falsifying birth documents for defender Byron Castillo in the previous World Cup qualification cycle. Enditem

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