Ecuador to meet Saudi Arabia, Japan in pre-World Cup friendlies

QUITO, July 21 (Xinhua) -- Ecuador will ramp up their preparations for this year's FIFA World Cup with friendlies against Saudi Arabia and Japan in September, the Ecuadorian football federation said on Thursday.

The clash against Saudi Arabia will take place on September 23 in the Spanish city of Murcia and four days later the Tricolor will meet Japan in Dusseldorf, Germany.

The World Cup will be played i