In 1930, Ecuador’s sports minister declined an invitation to compete in the inaugural World Cup. This decision was made by Ecuador.
The team did not qualify for the event from 1962 until 1998 because they first withdrew from the qualification process for the tournament that was held in 1950.
However, things have turned around for the national squad, as seen by their participation in four World Cup competitions over the course of the past 20 years.
In spite of the fact that they have had a lot of trouble in previous World Cups, they have always managed to win at least one match in each of the competitions, and in 2006, they advanced to the round of 16 in the competition.
A rather inexperienced grouping
This year, the team qualified for the Qatar World Cup 2022 in remarkable fashion by posting a record of five victories and just one loss at home as well as recording excellent draws against both Brazil and Argentina.
Despite injuries to Joao Rojas and Robert Arboleda, Ecuador’s team will be coached by Argentine Gustavo Alfaro, who was once the head coach of Buenos Aires great club Boca Juniors. Alfaro will be hoping to lead Ecuador to its best performance in a World Cup tournament to date.
Enner Valencia, a veteran attacker who also serves as captain, has scored 35 goals for Ecuador, which is the most of any player in the country’s history. Winger Angel Mena will be providing capable assistance to Valencia as he leads the assault. And there is a new crop of young players who have been building game experience across Europe, such as the 20-year-old midfielder Moisés Caicedo, who left his imprint on the English Premier League with 19 appearances for Brighton and Hove Albion.
Be sure to keep an eye out for defender Piero Hincapié as well, since he has been playing a significant amount for Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga, the highest level of German football.
Gonzalo Plata, who is 22 years old, is the player that everyone should be keeping an eye on. After suffering an ankle injury in October, the great winger made his comeback to the field in that month, and now a lot is riding on his performance.
But if you want to see some action, look no further than the 35-year-old goalkeeper Alexander Domnguez. He managed to get himself sent off during the match against Brazil in January by delivering a flying kick into Matheus Cunha’s neck. If you want to see some pyrotechnics, look no further.
In the first match of this year’s competition, Ecuador will take on the nation that is serving as the tournament host, Qatar. Ecuador’s goal is to start the tournament off on the right foot by claiming victory on the opening day. Given their present level of play, it would be natural for them to feel disheartened if they were to suffer a defeat. There is a good possibility that the Netherlands will win their group, but Senegal could present an opportunity for Ecuador to advance to the round of 16 for just the second time in their history.
The Ecuadorian national squad is the second youngest in the competition, behind only the United States’, and the South American nation is gambling on the youthful energy of its players to prevail over the more seasoned competition. Even though Ecuador is considered to be the underdog on the continent, they nevertheless pack quite a punch.
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