CHICAGO, Ill. (October 3, 2013) – The Chicago Fire Soccer Club announced Thursday that midfielders Joel Lindpere (Estonia) and Arevalo Rios (Uruguay) have been called up by their national teams for the upcoming FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.
Lindpere has been selected by Estonian Men’s National Team manager Tarmo Rüütli to represent Estonia against Turkey Oct. 11 at A. Le Coq Arena in Tallinn, Estonia and against Romania Oct. 15 at Arena Națională in Bucharest, Romania. A product of Tallinn, Estonia, Lindpere made his international debut on Nov. 1, 1999 in a friendly against the United Arab Emirates. He scored his first international goal on Feb. 18, 2004 in a 1-0 win over Moldova, and has since scored six goals in 91 total appearances for his country. Estonia has been eliminated from 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifying contention.
Head coach Óscar Tabárez has called in Rios,the Paysandú native, to represent Uruguay against Ecuador Oct. 11 at Estadio Olimpico Atahualpa in Quito, Ecuador and against Argentina at Estadio Centenario in Montevideo, Uruguay. A veteran international who has earned 48 caps for his country, Rios made seven appearances in the 2010 FIFA World Cup, helping Uruguay to a fourth place finish. Named one of the three players over the age of 23-years-old for the 2012 London Olympics, Rios also recently competed in the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup where he made three appearances.
The Ecuador fixture is crucial match for Uruguay’s World Cup Qualifying chances. La Celeste currently sit in fifth place in CONMEBOL and are tied for points with Ecuador. The top four CONMEBOL nations receive automatic berths for the FIFA 2014 World Cup. The fifth place side faces a playoff match with a nation from the Asian confederation.
Lindpere and Rios will depart on Saturday, Oct. 5 following the Fire’s Oct. 4 nationally televised clash with D.C. United at 7:00 p.m. CT (NBC Sports Network/107.9 La Ley). Both players are expected to miss the Fire’s Oct. 12 road match against FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas at 7:30 p.m. CT (My50/107.9 La Ley).
