2022 World Cup Preview, Ecuador Vs Senegal: You Can't Lose!

JAKARTA - The young team of Ecuador is on the verge of repeating its biggest achievement in the World Cup, the round of 16 if they can beat or draw against Senegal in its final match in Group A at the Khalifa International Stadium, Tuesday at 22.00 WIB.

The South Americans made a superb start to the tournament after beating hosts Qatar 2-0 before beating the Netherlands 1-1 in the second match.

On the other hand, if it becomes the losing party in the meeting with the African champions, then Ecuador will lift its luggage faster than this Qatar tournament.

"We have a bigger fight ahead", said coach Gustavo Alvaro as quoted by Antara via Reuters.

Ecuador relies heavily on Enner Valencia in tearing the opponent's goal so that all three goals that Ecuador made in the World Cup were scored by this veteran striker. This is the same number of goals scored by Valencia in the 2014 World Cup.

In truth, Valencia is just one of a myriad of extraordinary talents in the Ecuador squad, including 21-year-old midfielder Moises Caicedo, who is at the heart of everything good in the Ecuador team, both in helping protect the defense and in giving the attackers room to maneuver.

But ahead of this meeting with Senegal, Alvaro was actually confused by Valencia's fitness after being stretchered off at the end of the game against the Netherlands after a recurrence of a knee injury.

"He is the only player who has experienced appearing in the World Cup", said Alfaro, who has successfully molded a youth team to qualify for Qatar from hard zones such as South America.

The good news is that Alfaro will not face Senegal whose strength is intact after their mainstay, Sadio Mane, was unable to come to Qatar due to injury.

Senegal did lose 0-2 to the Netherlands, but their game was far from bad. And they proved this premise in their next match against hosts Qatar which they beat 3-0.

Now, Senegal is in third place in the Group A standings with three points or just one point away from the Netherlands, and Ecuador, who both collected four points.

With that many points, Senegal must win because any other result will see them kicked out of this tournament. They only need cohesiveness and opportunism in front of the opponent's goal as they have shown against Qatar.

"We have to concentrate better", said Senegal coach Aliou Cisse as reported by Reuters. "We need to win to have a chance of qualifying for the last 16."

One of three African nations to reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup, it is certain that victory over Ecuador will make them atone for the agony of the last tournament in Russia where they were eliminated due to disciplinary problems.

Predict the first eleven players

Ecuador (3-4-3): Hernan Galindez; Jackson Porozo, Felix Torres, Pierro Hincapie; Angelo Preciado, Jehgson Sebaz Mendez, Moises Caicedo, Pervis Estupinan; Gonzelo Plata, Jeremy Sarmiento; Michael Estrada

Senegal (4-4-2): Edouard Mendy; Youssouf Sabaly, Kalidou Koulibaly, Abdou Diallo, Ismail Jakobs; Ismaila Sarr, Nampalys Mendy, Idrissa Gueye, Krepin Diatta; Boulaye Dia, Famara Diedhiou

Important stats for both teams

Ecuador and Senegal met once in a friendly match before the 2002 World Cup which Senegal won 1-0.

Senegal must win to ensure a last-16 place or draw with the Netherlands losing against Qatar by two goals or more.

Ecuador is enough to hold the Senegal series to qualify for the last 16.

Six of Ecuador's goals in its last two World Cups, namely 2014 and 2022, were scored by Enner Valencia. Valencia both scored three goals in the two editions.

Ecuador was playing in its fourth World Cup and in filling out a repeat of Germany's 2006 World Cup feat reached the last 16.

Senegal reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup on their debut in 2002 but was eliminated in the group stage of the 2018 edition due to fair play points.

Senegal has played against South American teams in the World Cup twice, namely Uruguay in 2002 and Colombia in 2018. On the other hand, Ecuador has never faced an African team in a World Cup.