Ecuador?s players were left baffled when the national anthems were played before their World Cup match in Venezuela this week.
The Ecuadorians, including Manchester United star Antonio Valencia, lined up with their hands on their hearts expecting to hear their anthem Salve, Oh Patria (Hail, Oh Homeland).
What they got instead was a tune called ?Mexicanos, al grito de guerra? (Mexicans, at the cry of war), which unsurprisingly is the national anthem of Mexico.
There seemed to be a mixed reaction from the players: some looked confused, others sniggered, while the number eight ? Michael Antonio Arroyo ? seemed to say ?I know this one? ? which may well be true as he has spent two recent seasons in Mexico.
The Two Anthems
Ecaudor
Title: ??Salve, Oh Patria!? (?We Salute You, Our Homeland)
Written in 1865: By poet Juan Le?n Mera
Lyrics of chorus in English
We greet you, Oh Fatherland, a thousand times!
Oh Fatherland, Glory be to you! Glory be to you!
Your breast, your breast, overflows,
Your breast overflows with joy and peace;
And your radiant face, your radiant face
is brighter than the sun shining we see,
And your radiant face, your radiant face
is brighter than the sun shining we see.
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Mexico
Title: Himno Nacional Mexicano or Mexicanos, al grito de Guerra (Mexicans, at the cry of war)
Written in 1853: By Francisco Gonzalez Bocanegra
Lyrics of chorus in English
Mexicans, at the cry of war,
make ready the steel and the bridle,
and may the Earth tremble at its centres
at the resounding roar of the cannon.
and may the Earth tremble at its centres
at the resounding roar of the cannon!
