Ecuador will take on the Dutch national team in Group A of the World Cup on Friday. The South Americans started the tournament energetically with a 0-2 win over host country Qatar, but national coach Gustavo Alfaro warns his team at the preparatory press conference that it has to be better against the the Dutch. In addition, the coach says that it is still uncertain whether star player Enner Valencia will participate against the Netherlands.
Thanks to two goals from Valencia, Ecuador was soon on roses against Qatar. Yet Alfaro knows that the Netherlands is of a different calibre. “If you don’t defend and attack with the same intensity, you will get into trouble. You will lose nine times out of ten.” The Argentinian coach is therefore thinking about tactical changes for Friday’s game. “I haven’t decided yet if we’re going to start with three men at the back. We’ve gone through different situations and schedules, with five in line, with three midfielders and two forwards, with two nines, with a nine and a second striker. let us remember that the Netherlands is a passing game plays and that they are long in length.”
In the duel with Qatar, Valencia was injured with a knee injury. Whether the Fenerbahçe striker will participate against the the Dutch remains to be seen. “The tests have shown that he has no injury, but he has taken a serious blow. We will look at him this afternoon and then make a decision.” In any case, Alfaro sees his country as the underdog. “We do play against a country that wants to go for the world title. So it is as if we are playing against Brazil or Argentina,” Alfaro Oranje compliments. “Then of course you don’t expect us to win.”
fans
During the duel with Qatar, the fans of Ecuador did not always show their best side. For example, there was a playful shouting for beer, which is forbidden in and around the stadiums, and homophobic songs were sung towards Chile. That country tried to keep Ecuador from the World Cup because of the participation of the ineligible Byron Castillo. The director of the Ecuadorian Football Association, Michelle Deller, therefore hopes that the supporters will show their positive side. “Let’s be very careful not to do something that could have consequences, like a fine. We have to control our emotions. Go out and support Ecuador more than ever, but without attacking anyone.”