A look at the country’s demographics, football history and its squad status prior to the Qatar World Cup 2022.
Number of inhabitants: approx. 17.7 million.
Continent: South America
Confederation: CONMEBOL
National Football Association: FEF
Number of members: not found. (?% of total population)
International trophies won: /
Best World Cup result: Round of 16 in 2006
Key Players
In the past: Hurtado, Antonio Valencia, Ayovi, Mendez, Aguinaga.
Key current players: Estupinan, Hincapié, Caicedo, Cifuentes, Valencia.
Coach, formation and possible lineup
Coach: Gustavo Alfaro. (since 2020)
Typical formation: 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3
Possible lineup:
- GK: Hernan Galindez (SD Aucas)
- LCB: Piero Hincapié (Leverkusen)
- RCB: Jackson Porozo (Troyes)
- LB: Pervis Estupinan (Brighton)
- RB: Byron Castillo (Club Leon)
- DM: Carlos Gruezo (Augsburg)
- CM: Moises Caicedo (Brighton)
- CM: Jose Cifuentes (LA FC)
- RW: Angel Mena (Club Leon)
- LW: Romario Ibarra (Pachuca)
- ST: Enner Valencia (Fenerbahce)
Age Report
Players aged 25 or under in the current lineup: 6
Players aged 32 or over in the current lineup: 3
There are 3 players in this lineup that will (most likely) be playing their last World Cup this year: Galindez, Mena, and Valencia.
There are 6 players in this lineup that can play (at least) two more: Cifuentes, Caicedo, Hincapié, Porozo, Castillo, and Estupinan.
The remaining 2 players could play in one or two more World Cups.
Youngest player: Piero Hincapié, born 9 January 2002 (20)
Oldest player: Hernan Galindez, born 30 March 1987 (35)
Average squad age: 26.1
World Cup Qatar – Group A
Fixtures:
Sunday 20 November Qatar vs Ecuador
Friday 25 November Netherlands vs Ecuador
Tuesday 29 November Ecuador vs Senegal
Our view:
Ecuador has some exciting young talents at their disposal, such as Brighton’s Caicedo (20) and Estupinan (24), and Bayer Leverkusen’s Hincapié (20). In the South American qualifiers for Qatar, Uruguay and Ecuador were the “best of the rest”, finishing at a distance behind the big two Brazil and Argentina. Ecuador are a squad with a decent defensive organization, usually opting for a 4-3-3 with one defensive midfielder. In a group with Qatar, Netherlands and Senegal, I would expect them to battle Senegal for the second spot.
Prediction: Group stage exit
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