Home SPORTSFIFA World Cup 2022 Team Analysis: Ecuador Squad for FIFA World Cup 2022

Team Analysis: Ecuador Squad for FIFA World Cup 2022

Ecuador FIFA World Cup squad 2022

by Kolkata Today
Ecuador FIFA World Cup squad 2022

Gustavo Alfaro arrived in the Ecuador national team in 2020 with the aim of bringing through the country’s new generation of footballers. The goal was to compete for a place in the 2026 World Cup… but they have made a breakthrough by reaching the 2022 tournament. Only Brazil and Argentina have ‘overtaken’ them. Hincapie, Plata, Caicedo are already shining in an Ecuador that will have a different and younger face in Qatar. They have ‘modernised’.

Despite some off-field issues in the run-up to the tournament, Ecuador will proceed to the 2022 FIFA World Cup with the hopes of challenging for a knockout stage spot.

Ecuador just would not go away in CONMEBOL World Cup qualification, punching above their weight and frustrating South American powers Brazil and Argentina as they secured points up and down the round-robin qualifying schedule.

That earned La Tri a direct ticket to Qatar and a spot in a competitive Group A alongside hosts Qatar plus the Netherlands and Senegal.

Despite a dispute with Chile and Peru around a potentially ineligible player in World Cup qualifying, La Tri will keep their spot in the World Cup finals at the expense of their South American rivals with their final roster announced on Monday, November 14.

Provisional Ecuador World Cup squad 2022

Manager Gustavo Alfaro had until Friday, October 21 to submit an official preliminary list of 35-55 players to FIFA, from which he will select his final 26-man roster for Qatar by Monday, November 14.

Cuts will be made across the board, as Gustavo Alfaro has a number of young players to fit in, and not many places to go around for other, more established players.

Below is a projected final 26-man squad, assuming all his players are fit and ready to go.

This section will be updated as soon as the final roster is confirmed.

Position Player Club Age Caps
Goalkeeper Alexander Dominguez Deportes Tolima (ECU) 35 67
Goalkeeper Hernan Galindez Aucas (ECU) 35 12
Goalkeeper Moises Ramirez Independiente (ECU) 22 2
Defender Robert Arboleda Sao Paulo (BRA) 31 32
Defender Xavier Arreaga Seattle Sounders (USA) 28 17
Defender Byron Castillo Club Leon (MEX) 23 12
Defender Pervis Estupinan Brighton (ENG) 24 28
Defender Piero Hincapie Bayer Leverkusen (GER) 20 21
Defender Diego Palacios LAFC (USA) 23 11
Defender Angelo Preciado Genk (BEL) 24 25
Defender Felix Torres Santos Laguna (MEX) 25 16
Midfielder Alexander Alvarado LDU Quito (ECU) 23 3
Midfielder Nilson Angulo Anderlecht (BEL) 19 2
Midfielder Dixon Arroyo Emelec (ECU) 30 2
Midfielder Moises Caicedo Brighton (ENG) 20 25
Midfielder Jose Cifuentes LAFC (USA) 23 10
Midfielder Alan Franco Talleres (ARG) 24 23
Midfielder Carlos Gruezo Augsburg (GER) 27 45
Midfielder Jhegson Mendez LAFC (USA) 25 31
Midfielder Jeremy Sarmiento Brighton (ENG) 20 9
Forward Leonardo Campana Inter Miami (USA) 22 12
Forward Michael Estrada Cruz Azul (MEX) 26 36
Forward Romario Ibarra Pachuca (MEX) 28 24
Forward Angel Mena Club Leon (MEX) 34 45
Forward Gonzalo Plata Real Valladolid (SPA) 21 29
Forward Enner Valencia Fenerbahce (TUR) 33 74

 

Ecuador national team stars, strengths & weaknesses

Ecuador boss Gustavo Alfaro has a host of young talent to build on as Ecuador begin play at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Alfaro, an Argentine, took over the Ecuador squad in 2020. He formerly managed Boca Juniors, Al-Ahli, and Rosario Central among several other sides throughout his 30-year managerial career.

Stars

The most well-known player on the Ecuador squad is Enner Valencia, currently of Turkish side Fenerbahce. Valencia enjoyed a long career in the Premier League with West Ham and Everton before spending three seasons in Liga MX with Tigres. He moved back to Europe to join Fenerbahce, and has been in stellar form this season, scoring 13 goals and assisting four others in 12 Turkish Super Lig matches.

Brighton’s Premier League starting duo of do-it-all midfielder Moises Caicedo and left-back Pervis Estupinan are the up-and-coming stars on the European scene, along with Real Valladolid’s 21-year-old Gonzalo Plata who is already making his mark in La Liga.

Strengths

The Ecuador side has an incredibly deep midfield unit, with lots of young talent coming through. In addition to Caicedo, in-demand 23-year-old Jose Cifuentes of LAFC is another of several pieces who can slot in. The experienced fixture marshaling the group is veteran Carlos Gruezo, who plies his trade in the Bundesliga with Augsburg.

Weaknesses

Ecuador’s attack is led by star Enner Valencia, but as he ages (33), there are very few young players set to come and take over goal-scoring duties. Cruz Azul’s Michael Estrada has seen time at striker, but he has just one goal in his last 13 international appearances. Playmaker Joao Rojas tore his ACL with Liga MX side Monterrey, thinning the attacking ranks further. 

Ecuador World Cup group

La Tri will begin World Cup action in Group A alongside hosts Qatar, plus European side Netherlands and African stalwarts Senegal.

Ecuador will play in the tournament-opening fixture against Qatar on November 20 — the only game on opening day.

While there is no true dominant side (No. 8-ranked Netherlands were a Pot 2 selection, with hosts Qatar serving as the Pot 1 side), there are also no games where three points can be easily predicted.

The hosts are likely the weakest possible opponent, but the host bump is a real, proven danger. The Netherlands and Senegal will both have their sights set on a knockout stage spot, leaving Ecuador to play spoiler if they are to reach the coveted Round of 16.

 

Ecuador World Cup Group A fixtures and match Schedule

Date Match Time (ET) Stadium
Sun, Nov. 20 Qatar vs. Ecuador 11 a.m. Al Bayt Stadium
Mon, Nov. 21 Senegal vs. Netherlands 11 a.m. Al Thumama Stadium
Fri, Nov. 25 Qatar vs. Senegal 8 a.m. Al Thumama Stadium
Fri, Nov. 25 Netherlands vs. Ecuador 11 a.m. Khalifa Int’l Stadium
Tues, Nov. 29 Netherlands vs. Qatar 10 a.m. Al Bayt Stadium
Tues, Nov. 29 Ecuador vs. Senegal 10 a.m. Khalifa Int’l Stadium

 

Ecuador World Cup lineup, starting 11

There are a few decisions for Gustavo Alfaro to make as he selects his starting lineup.

In goal, he can go with experienced veteran Alexander Dominguez or recent starter Hernan Galindez, who started the final four World Cup qualifiers as well as a recent friendly against Japan.

Young Piero Hincapie is a lock to start at center-back, but his partner is in question. Veteran Roberto Arboleda is an option if he regains full fitness, as is MLS-based Xavier Arreaga.

Up front, the ever-present Enner Valencia should start, with Angel Mena in support. Romario Ibarra and young Gonzalo Plata should also see significant playing time on the wings.

Ecuador projected starting 11 vs Qatar

Ecuador lineup (4-2-3-1, left to right): Dominguez (GK) — Estupinan, Hincapie, Torres, Preciado — M. Caicedo, Gruezo — Mena, Valencia, Plata — Estrada.

COACH

GUSTAVO ALFARO

The Argentinian coach arrived in 2020 to reshape an Ecuador that was in need of a generational change. And they have reached the World Cup ahead of schedule.

THE STAR

PIERO HINCAPIE

At 20 years of age, the Bayer Leverkusen centre-back leads Ecuador’s backline without fear. A ‘mod-ern’ centre-back, fast and with good ball control.

LINE-UP (1-4-2-3-1)

THE BEST

The self-confidence and youthfulness of a developing team.

THE WORST

The low mileage in the elite ranks of its ‘stars’.

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