The leadership of group A and the pass to the second round is at stake in the match between South Americans and Europeans.
Since its arrival in Qatar, Ecuador tries write historical pages of its football. They got one becoming the first team to defeat the hosts in an opening game, and against Netherlands they are looking for a victory today Friday, that will grant them a place in the round of 16 for the second time in their history.
The possible winner of this match, on paper, points in the direction to the Orange, more experienced in this type of competition and with more valued players in the markets, but La Tri has enough quality to surprise with Louis van Gaal’s men .
Argentina and Brazil know this well, since in qualifying they collided against Ecuador and now the Netherlands will know their strength, which has led them to keep a clean sheet in their last seven games.
The identity of the Netherlands is well known and their credentials are clear – no defeats in the Van Gaal era and two and a half goals per game – but Ecuador coach Gustavo Alfaro refuses to turn the duel in an opposition between the netherland attack and his defense. “If we don’t make them run, we’ll have problems”, said the coach, who will be waiting until the last minute for the knee of Enner Valencia, the veteran attacker who was retired in the first game against Qatar after scoring the two goals in the win.
Van Gaal can already line up to Memphis Depay from the start, who the first day came out in the second part of the hard-fought victory against Senegal, that they only got in the final minutes.
The leadership of group A and the ticket to the next phase, at stake.
Probable line up Ecuador – Netherlands
Netherlands: Noppert; De Ligt, Van Dijk, Aké; Dunfries, Berghuis, De Jong, Blind; Gakpo; Depay and Bergwijn
Ecuador: Galindez; Preciado, Torres, Hincapié, Estipiñán; Silver, Mendez, Caicedo, Ibarra; Valencia and Road
Referee: Mustapha Ghorbal (Algeria)
Stadium: Khalifa International (Doha).
By Fernando Perez (Football Analyst, Spain)