Ecuador
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Rank: 28 World Cup appearances: Best result: Top SCORERS Did you know? Ecuador's Colombian manager Reinaldo Rueda was granted honourary citizenship of Honduras for taking them to the 2010 World Cup.  |
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A quick look at Ecuador's World Cup qualifying campaign would lead to the conclusion that their biggest strength was playing home matches at high altitude in Quito.
Generally regarded as the weakest of South America's six representatives, Ecuador won seven games and drew one at the Atahualpa, their mountain fortress at 2,800 metres above sea level, while on the road they managed only three draws and five defeats. Coach Reinaldo Rueda, however, is having none of it, saying there is much more to his team than just a piece of geographical fortune.
They overcame tragedy on the way when striker Christian Benitez, who scored in three qualifiers, died of a heart attack in Qatar where he was playing his club football.
The 27-year-old passed away in July last year, little more than one month after playing in the qualifier away to Peru which turned out to be his final game.
Cristian Noboa keeps the two wingers supplied with excellent distribution from the heart of the midfield while the hard-tackling Segundo Castillo provides protection for the defence.
Castillo's role could prove crucial as Ecuador have been shown to have a soft centre.
On their last two World Cup appearances, Ecuador were able to build their team around the impregnable central defensive pairing of Ivan Hurtado and Giovanny Espinoza, who were approaching nearly 200 caps between them.
They are no longer around and Ecuador have failed to replenish the talent pool. The situation has got worse since Frickson Erazo, one of their first choices, moved to Brazilian club Flamengo where he is now struggling to get a game.
STRENGTH
Intense tempo
Ecuador are fast, intense and physical. At home, they were unbeaten in qualifying, winning seven of their eight games but failed to pick up a single victory away from home.
WEAKNESS
Defensive pairing
On their last two World Cup appearances, Ecuador were able to build their team around the impregnable central defensive pairing of Ivan Hurtado and Giovanny Espinoza, who were approaching nearly 200 caps between them. They are no longer around and Ecuador have failed to replenish the talent pool. The situation has got worse since Frickson Erazo, one of their first choices, moved to Brazilian club Flamengo where he is now struggling to get a game.
ONE TO WATCH
Antonio Valencia
There are times when Antonio Valencia flatters to deceive, but more often than not his pace down the right flank proves a telling factor for Manchester United and Ecuador.
The 28-year old showed his potential when he scored two goals on his international debut in a 5-2 win over Paraguay in 2006 World Cup qualifying, although he has since netted only eight times in 68 appearances.
His darting runs impressed in Ecuador's World Cup run to the last 16 in 2006 and Valencia captained his country to a fourth-placed finish in the South American qualifying campaign for the tournament in Brazil.
That secured an automatic berth for the Ecuadoreans who will rely on the versatile winger to direct their quest to reach the last 16 from a Group E.
Shy and quiet off the pitch, Valencia is reliable, combative and selfless on it, and Ecuador will need all those traits from their skipper if they are to progress to the knockout stages.
Coach: Reinaldo Rueda
Reinaldo Rueda became a national hero in Honduras when he led them to the 2010 World Cup and has repeated the trick four years later with Ecuador.
Like Hernan Dario Gomez and Luis Fernando Suarez, the coaches who led Ecuador at their only two previous World Cup appearances, the softly spoken and youthful-looking 57-year-old is from neighbouring Colombia.
Rueda, who has been in charge of the Andean side since 2010, was under severe pressure after his team finished bottom of their group in the 2011 Copa America.
However, he clung on to his job on the back of some important wins in Quito and rebuilt the side with limited resources.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Maximo Banguera (Barcelona SC), Alexander Dominguez (LDU Quito), Adrian Bone (El Nacional)
Defenders: Frickson Erazo (Flamengo), Jorge Guagua, Oscar Bagui, Gabriel Achilier (all Emelec), Walter Ayovi (Pachuca), Juan Carlos Paredes (Barcelona SC)
Midfielders: Segundo Castillo (Al-Hilal), Carlos Gruezo (Stuttgart), Renato Ibarra (Vitesse Arnhem), Cristian Noboa (Dynamo Moscow), Luis Saritama (Barcelona SC), Antonio Valencia (Manchester United), Edison Mendez (Independiente Santa Fe), Fidel Martinez (Tijuana), Michael Arroyo (Atlante)
Forwards: Felipe Caicedo (Al-Jazira), Jefferson Montero (Morelia), Joao Rojas (Cruz Azul), Jaime Ayovi (Tijuana), Enner Valencia (Pachuca)
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