Ecuador predictions, squad details, manager and tournament odds for the World Cup 2022, brought to you by the Ranks FC team.
Ecuador face hosts Qatar in the 2022 World Cup grand opener. They’ll be hoping to spoil the party locally—and use it as a springboard to some surprise success.
Who is the Ecuador Manager?
It’s a young side led by manager Gustavo Alfaro—Ecuador’s 6th coach in 6 years—but after years of upheaval, this one appears to have stuck. He has almost 30 years of coaching experience, with all of it coming either in the Americas or in Saudi Arabia.
What tactics can we expect from them at the World Cup?
Expect Alfaro to set Ecuador up in a 4-3-3 formation. They’re at their best playing in a more reactive style that allows them to battle for the ball and then explode into space.
The central midfield is hardworking and combative, but also pretty tidy. They won’t be relied upon to create though—that onus will fall on the wide players.
Specifically, that’ll be Pervis Estupinan’s sharp runs from deep and Gonzalo Plata’s final third dribbling. One problem on each flank for opponents to deal with, creating a nice balance to Ecuador’s moves.
Speaking of Plata, he’s their player to watch.
Who are the players to watch for Ecuador?
He plays in La Liga with Real Valladolid and has spent some formative years in Sporting Club Portugal’s youth sides. He’s OK at that level, but like a lot of South American players, really seems to step it up for his nation.
He’s a dangerous left-footed winger, who cuts in off the right and shoots or dribbles towards the box at will. Look out for him.
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Who is favourite to be top scorer for Ecuador?
Despite scoring the joint-2nd-most goals in CONMEBOL qualifying, 27, it’s tough to pinpoint a nominated goalscorer for Ecuador; it was a group effort, a shared load, although Michael Estrada of DC United did top-score in qualifying with 6 goals.
Like Plata, he’ll also probably play wide, as the pair flank ex West Ham man Enner Valencia—who is still going, age 33, but whose threat usually comes from the penalty spot nowadays.
How did Ecuador qualify for the World Cup?
Ecuador qualified for the World Cup 4th in the CONMEBOL table. They held 3rd spot for a long time but slipped late, though it didn’t cost them.
Beating Uruguay 4-2 and Colombia 6-1 in the opening 4 matchdays fuelled them with the belief they needed to carry them through and proves they can tussle with some of the best
What are the ambitions for this Ecuador team?
As such, their ambition for this tournament should and will be to qualify from Group A and hit the knockout stages. They lack the star power of Senegal but should see themselves as close to equals, while Qatar’s unknown factor could shake up the group.
Finishing top two will be difficult, but it is achievable for Alfaro’s men. The Round of 16, though, has to be considered their realistic limit.
Ecuador World Cup Odds
Ecuador are 250/1 to win the World Cup. Not the longest shot of the tournament but not too far off it. It would be stunning if they pulled it off.
