FIFA World Cup 2022 Team Insight: Ecuador Coach, Team, Fixtures

Ecuador is a Conmebol side which isn’t that regular in the mega event, however, they secured their place this time. After playing 18 matches in the world cup qualifying round, they won 7 of them, were drawn 5 times and lost 6 other matches.

In that process, they acquired 26 points which was enough for them to seal a spot in the world cup only for the fourth time. The irony is that they were invited to the first-ever world cup as they were a FIFA member from 1926 and a CONMEBOL member from 1927. Nevertheless, they rejected the opportunity to participate. Here, we’ll take a look at Ecuador National Football Team.

Ecuador Team Information:

• Association: Ecuadorian Football Federation
• Captain: Enner Valencia
• Top Scorer: Enner Valencia (35 goals)
• Most Capped player: Ivan Hurtado (168 caps)
• FIFA code: ECU
• Nickname: La Tri (The Tri), La Tricolor (The Tricolors)
• Current FIFA ranking: 44
• Best FIFA ranking: 10
• Lowest FIFA ranking: 71

Group A opponents:

• Qatar
• Senegal
• Netherlands

Ecuador FIFA World Cup 2022 Coach and Players:

• Coach: Gustavo Alfaro
• Team players:
• Goalkeeper: Dominguez, Galindez, Ramirez.
• Defenders: Estupinan, Arboleda, Torres, Arreaga, Castillo, Hincapie, Preciado, Porozo, Palacios.
• Midfielder: Caicedo, Gruezo, Franco, Mendez, Arroyo, Sarmiento, Cifuentes.
• Attacker: Valencia, Estrada, Plata, Caicedo, Mena, Ibarra, Campana, Alvarado.

History:

Ecuador qualified for the very first time in the world cup in 2002. They had a great team back then as they overpassed Uruguay and Brazil in the qualifying round. Their best outcome in the sport’s biggest event came 4 years later as they reached the round of 16 in 2006. They failed to reach the main stage in 2010 but qualified again in 2014 though they were knocked out from the group stage. It’s their 4th-time endeavour in the greatest show on the earth.

At the continental level, Ecuador took part in Copa America 29 times. In 1939, they first competed in the tournament, however, they are the only 2nd team in the Conmebol region with Venezuela who didn’t win the Copa America trophy. Their best result was attaining 4th place twice. Once in 1959 and another one in 1993.

Ecuador took part in the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2002 and their sole participation ended in kicking out from the group round.

Ecuador hasn’t won a single title in their long footballing career. It’s highly unlikely they would go to the next round as Netherlands and Senegal are the two favourites from this group and the host nation Qatar can do anything too. Therefore, the hope is thin for ‘the Tricolors’. However, as a Latin American nation, we can expect beautiful football from them.

Ecuador FIFA World Cup 2022 Fixture: