World Cup Preview - Group A - Ecuador

Ecuador

Coach: Colombian Luis Suarez.

Game Schedule:
June 9 – Ecuador vs. Poland (3 p.m. EST)
June 14 – Ecuador vs. Costa Rica (9 a.m.)
June 20 – Ecuador vs. Germany (10 a.m.)

Prospects: The good news is that Ecuador has now qualified for its second consecutive World Cup, promoting itself to the second level of contenders in a Conmebol conference dominated by Brazil and Argentina. The bad news is that it is still a long way toward being a perennial at the tournament. Will Ecuador make the kind of underdog splash that Peru made in ’74 or Colombia made in ’90? Unlikely. In a weak group dominated by a weakened German side, they’ll still be a little short of qualifying for the second round. Ecuador owes its qualification largely to gaining 23 out of 28 points from home games in the high altitudes of its capital Quito. If this summer’s games were to be played in the Alps, they might have a chance. In the decidedly unlofty unevirons of the Olympiastadion in Berlin, they’ll come a cropper against Germany, especially if the hosts are chasing points for positional advantage.

Big Media Story: Will the shaman that the Ecuadorans have hired to visit every WC venue make a difference on the pitch? Sources say “no.”

Youngster to watch: 19-year old winger Christian Lara – likely to be scooped up by a European club after the tournament if he performs.

Who Will Get the Goals: They’ll have to rely once again on flash-in-the-pan former Premiership striker Augustin Delgado.

Who Will Get the Cards: Veteran Ulises de la Cruz – two reds in qualifiers.

Prediction: Unless they can get a point off of Poland in the opener, it’ll be two losses to the Europeans, a win against hapless Costa Rica and a just a little too little for second round qualification. They might make the Germans have to work for it in the final group match, though.

~Bob