Ecuador (National Football)

Ecuador will take on Honduras on Friday in Group E's second round of matches. The June 20 showdown in Curitiba provides Reinaldo Rueda's side a chance to shake off the heartbreaking last-gasp loss to Switzerland on Sunday.

The performance in Ecuador's opener was probably not up to the standard Rueda would have hoped for. Enner Valencia's first-half goal certainly would've buoyed feelings going into the half, but La Tri left a lot of questions unanswered going into the break and were duly punished.

Looking ahead to the next match, Honduras should provide an easier matchup than Ottmar Hitzfeld's squad. This should give Rueda an opportunity to tinker with a few things and improve his side's chances of advancing out of Group E.

What are some areas that need to be addressed? Here are just a couple major ones.

Defensive solidity

Ecuador's defensive play has constantly been a major weakness.

Both of Switzerland's goals could be pegged down to some shaky defensive work. The equalizer early in the second half was a header by Admir Mehmedi, who had been on the pitch barely two minutes, from a great corner-kick delivery from Ricardo Rodriguez.

Midfielder Carlos Gruezo failed in the aerial challenge and keeper Alexander Dominguez, who returned to the starting lineup after not featuring in pre-tournament friendlies, missed as well. Dominguez's return was a welcome sign as he replaced the shaky Maximo Banguera, but it wasn't the best of performances from the stopper.

Dominguez, known in Ecuador as Dida after the Brazilian great, had been battling a hand injury for a while. Banguera struggled in the build-up to the tournament as Dominguez fought for fitness, and the LDU Quito stopper was deemed good to go for this one.

However, it was apparent that he was not at his best. He put forth a middling effort between the sticks, showing decent reflexes but missing a number of simple opportunities. Hopefully, he can put these first-match jitters behind him.

Gruezo was one of Ecuador's weakest links in this match, continually dragged around by the movement of Switzerland's young and energetic midfield. This left space that Hitzfeld's side exploited, eventually leading to the game-winner on the break.

Walter Ayovi and Juan Carlos Paredes worked hard on the flanks as usual, while Jorge Guagua and Frickson Erazo put in solid enough shifts. However, the central men couldn't stop Haris Seferovic on the break, and it cost them dearly.

Honduras does not pose the same threat going forward as Switzerland, but they showcase enough talent to keep Rueda's side honest. The back seven—including Gruezo and Cristhian Noboa, who was the best in the midfield against the Swiss—need to buckle down and put in a strong collective performance.

Antonio Valencia

Ecuador captain Antonio Valencia is easily the best-known player on this squad. His exploits over the last several years playing in England have bolstered his reputation immensely. So much so that he was handed the famed No. 7 shirt at Manchester United, following the likes of George Best, Eric Cantona, David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo.

However, over the last couple of seasons, his performance has waned by quite a margin. His pace is still an asset, but his delivery, in many cases, has been suspect.

His showing against Switzerland left plenty to be desired, and the only real impact he made in pre-tournament friendlies was on Raheem Sterling's neck. In many ways, he is quickly becoming overshadowed by the unrelated Enner Valencia, whose goalscoring exploits have raised his stock significantly.

You have to wonder if, should he continue to struggle, Rueda might consider pulling the plug on his skipper in crunch time. He does have an excellent talent waiting in the wings in the form of Vitesse's Renato Ibarra.

Ibarra is not unlike Jefferson Montero on the left, in that he's a small, tricky winger who will cut inside willingly and take on his defender without hesitation. He can provide a much-needed spark to Ecuador's counter-attacking play, which could be crucial if Ecuador's defense continues to struggle.

Valencia will go up against another solid left-back in Emilio Izaguirre after a long battle with Ricardo Rodriguez. It will be interesting to see if the Celtic man can contain Valencia and his Swiss counterpart, taking one half of Ecuador's wing-based attack out of the picture.

Montero continues to make an impact on the left, while Enner Valencia is like a man possessed through the middle. But if the man on the right can't get it done, it will drag everything down. Valencia must turn things around if Ecuador are to go anywhere in this competition.

What other areas must Ecuador address? Comment below and feel free to drop me a line on Twitter.

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Ecuador ended up losing a game in which they couldn’t hold on to a 1-0 lead in their World Cup opener against Switzerland. The lack of concentration, fueled by overconfidence and irresponsibility from Ecuador’s wingers, played a huge role in the South Americans' fall.

Enner Valencia’s goal within the first 25 minutes of the match, as odd as it might sound, wasn’t beneficial for the South Americans. It relaxed Ecuador and didn’t allow them to find a way to exploit the best of their offensive strengths.

The best from Ecuador’s attack should have come from the wings. Walter Ayovi and Jefferson Montero should have dominated the left side of the field, and Antonio Valencia should have done the same on the right side. That never really happened, nor was there any rush to figure it out, in part due to the commodity of being ahead on the scoreboard.

To make it worse, these irresponsible Ecuadorian players cared less about Switzerland full-backs cautiously adding themselves to the European attack. And again, why would they care? They were winning, after all.

Felipe Caicedo and the late Christian Benitez were the main weapons during the World Cup qualifiers. Now against the Swiss, Caicedo was almost a ghost, but that was in great measure due to the lack of support he was getting from the wings. Reinaldo Rueda thought otherwise and substituted Caicedo.

When Switzerland tied the game with a header from Admir Mehmedi coming from a corner kick, Ecuador still neglected their failure on the wings as they saw Mehmedi’s goal as a distraction on a set piece.

Carlos Gruezo’s poor coverage and lack of concentration deservedly earns most of the blame on Switzerland’s equalizer, but the poor concentration on Antonio Valencia’s defensive header didn’t help either. Valencia could have easily cleared the corner but miscalculated his jump when he didn’t even have a Swiss attacker to hassle him.

Only seconds before Switzerland found the winning goal in stoppage time, Ecuador could have won the match with a play finally coming from the wing. The low cross from the right side left Michael Arroyo, Caicedo’s substitute, with a clear chance to score, but he ended up missing. It was then that a chain reaction of irresponsible decisions added up for Ecuador’s heartbreaking loss.

Arroyo could have been Ecuador’s first defender once he lost the ball, but instead he decided to lament without bothering to defend. As Switzerland started its counterattack through the middle, Ecuador’s right-wingers decided to walk and didn’t come back either.

Contrary to the Ecuador attackers' arrogance, Switzerland’s left-back Ricardo Rodriguez decided to make a run. It was Rodriguez who made the cross from the left side for Haris Seferovic to send it to the back of the net. And we can also add the awful coverage from Ecuador’s back line to the list of problems which led to the dramatic winner.

Switzerland had full concentration through the 90 minutes and made Ecuador pay. To make it even more cruel, the Europeans scored the winning goal with a counterattack that took advantage of using the wings—that was supposed to be Ecuador’s way to damage the Swiss defense.

Ecuador is back in the World Cup after missing out four years ago, and its first challenge is Switzerland. The match will take place on Sunday in Brazil's capital, Brasilia.

Reinaldo Rueda, currently Ecuador's manager, took Honduras to South Africa in 2010. Honduras wasn't able to score a single goal during the tournament, as Rueda's tactics focused more on defense and the team’s main striker was injured.

They did, however, manage to draw a game. That draw came against Switzerland—the last game of the group stage—and it left the European squad with no chance of advancing to the second round.

Ottmar Hitzfeld is taking Switzerland to its second World Cup in a row, and he will certainly be looking to get even with his opponent.

Hitzfeld had a dream start with the Swiss in South Africa, defeating the European champions and eventual World Cup winner Spain, but they were then eliminated in the group stage. The German-born manager hopes to triumph in his third try with the Swiss after disappointing in 2010 and failing to qualify for Euro 2012.

Rueda vs. Hitzfeld may not be a mainstream battle between coaches, but it's building its own history. The following key matchups will shape the opening game between these two national teams:

Christian Noboa has become essential for Ecuador's midfield. He plays in the middle, containing rivals as they transition in the midfield zone. He is also vital to starting Ecuador's attack.

Noboa will fight for control of the midfield against the Swiss central midfielder Gokhan Inler.

Control of the central midfield area doesn't necessarily mean that the team with the most possession will win the battle.

Ecuador is designed to counter-attack, and it isn't likely that Rueda will change strategies against Switzerland. Noboa's personal battle will be won if he can contain Inler's influence on the Swiss offensive game; however, it doesn't end for him there, as he also has to lead in the quick counter-attacks.

On the other side, Inler will have to take risks and get creative with the ball. The Napoli midfielder must avoid getting frustrated if minutes go by without clear chances to score. Patience could be Inler's best friend as he reads Ecuador's game.

The left wing of the South Americans is essential to Ecuador's attacking power. Considering that Ecuador star man Antonio Valencia plays on the right wing, he will take some of the focus from Walter Ayovi and Jefferson Montero, allowing them to break through the European defense.

Ayovi and Montero will try to be the association owning the left wing, guarded by Swiss right-back Stephan Lichtsteiner.

Ayovi is a multifunctional player who can play as either a left full-back or a left midfielder. Wherever he plays, he will give freedom to Montero, who won't have to worry about coming back.

Ayovi is a strong physical defender when required, but he is also a smart player on offense. Montero is a very talented player who can combine speed and skill, a perfect weapon in Rueda's counter-attack strategy.

The Swiss will rely on Juventus defender Lichtsteiner to stop the Ayovi-Montero threat. Lichtsteiner's best bet will be not just to contain the Ecuadorians but also to become a worry for Ayovi and Montero when adding himself into the European attack.

The right wing of Ecuador has an owner—none other than Manchester United's Valencia. His characteristics as a skilled and fast player are key, much like Montero's role on the left.

Valencia is the soul and leader of Ecuador, so his performance will impact the entire game. The man Valencia faces will likely be right full-back Ricardo Rodriguez from the Swiss golden generation, who won the U17 World Cup in 2009.

The young Wolfsburg defender is up to a challenge that if he is successful at, Switzerland's chance of winning is considerably higher.

Finally, for Switzerland to beat Ecuador, Xherdan Shaqiri will need to find vulnerability in the South American back line.

Shaqiri must confront the Ecuadorian defenders as often as possible. If he beats the defenders, he will break the order in Ecuador's defense. That's where Switzerland's chances to score will appear.

Shaqiri will also have the responsibility of wearing out the rival's defense, which will only happen if he constantly participates in the match. Keeping Ecuador's defense busy means its upper lines will have to pull back, thereby reducing the effectiveness of their counter-attacks.

Welcome to the latest round of our World Cup 2014 tactics board, where this time we're putting Ecuador under the microscope.

In this series we're looking at each of the 32 qualifying nations; assessing their strengths and weaknesses and judging just what they might be able to achieve in Brazil this summer.

Ecuador are led by head coach Reinaldo Rueda, and here is how they got through qualifying and how they will approach the task that lies ahead for them.

Qualification/Preparation

The fourth-placed team in the CONMEBOL qualification system, Ecuador gained direct passage to the finals at the end of the lengthy league system in South America. The top four automatically go through in this nine-nation group, with fifth place winning a play-off spot.

Ecuador's qualifying campaign can be very clearly split in two: an unbeaten home record, and an away record without a single win.

Early home wins over Venezuela and Peru were straight-forward affairs, though defeat to Paraguay in between those results gave a sign of what was to come—Paraguay went on to finish bottom of the group.

A heavy loss in Argentina was followed up by two hugely important 1-0 wins over Colombia and Bolivia. Their first away points came in what turned out to be a pivotal 1-1 draw in Uruguay. That sparked the most consistent run of results in qualifying, as Chile were dispatched at home before a draw in Venezuela was also achieved, along with a 4-1 home thumping of Paraguay.

The telling third goal in that match was scored by striker Christian "Chucho" Benitez, in what would be his 24th and final international goal before tragically passing away in July 2013, aged 27.

Needless to say, it threw Ecuador's team into a sporting and psychological conundrum, with the experienced forward being one of the key components of the side and a big presence in the dressing room and especially close to national team hero and captain Antonio Valencia.

Anybody who doesn't know the story: Valencia's Ecuador team-mate Chucho Benitez died in July. Valencia has a tattoo in his memory.

— Jonathan Wilson (@jonawils) September 17, 2013

Ecuador scraped across the finish line, somewhat understandably, following a defeat to Peru, a draw at home to Argentina, a loss in Colombia and a draw in Bolivia. Needing a positive result in their penultimate qualifier at home to direct rivals for fourth place, Uruguay, Jefferson Montero scored the big goal in a 1-0 win, meaning the 2-1 loss in Chile mattered little.

Ecuador finished fourth, ahead of Uruguay on goal difference, with 25 points from 16 games.

Formation and Style

Ecuador tend to look to attack with pace and width, countering whenever possible to make use of their flair-filled wide players.

In Jefferson Montero on the left and Antonio Valencia on the right, they possess two players who, in differing ways, are capable of running directly at defenders and causing problems to open up spaces for the central attackers.

Valencia has also played centrally at times, but looks more likely to play from the wing.

Benitez's passing left more than just a gap in the team, of course, but in terms of Ecuador's World Cup hopes, losing their third-highest all-time scorer is a significant problem to overcome. The current highest scorer in the team is now veteran midfielder Edison Mendez, who has 18 goals in over 100 appearances.

Striker Felipe Caicedo, now with Al-Jazira, is the likely leader of the attack, having netted a number of goals—though a handful from the penalty spot—in qualifying.

Enner Valencia is another option to play just off the front man and give more support to the attack without compromising on midfield solidity, having previously played as a wide man and being used to tracking back.

Reasons for Hope

Starting with Group E, Ecuador will feel they must at least have a fighting chance of progression.

France will be favourites to go through, but Switzerland and Honduras are not necessarily that much better than the South American nation that second place is out of the question.

There is plenty of experience within the squad, with seven players past or within touching distance of a half-century of caps. That will be important in keeping composure and faith with the game plan if, or when, they fall behind in matches, particularly in their opening fixtures.

Mentality is always vital in tournament games, and Ecuador perhaps showed that they have the fighting spirit to cope with adversity, albeit in a very different setting, when they came from 3-0 down to win 4-3 against Australia in a recent international friendly.

They also drew 2-2 with World Cup opponents Honduras last year, coming from behind to steal a draw late in the game.

Finally, a very strong defensive record in qualifying will be a positive point for Ecuador to cling to; they conceded just 16 goals in 16 games—the third-best tally in the group behind the top two qualifiers, Argentina and Colombia.

Reasons for Concern

It will be said that most South American teams will benefit by the World Cup being on "home soil," but Ecuador's qualifying record outside of their own country doesn't exactly scream of confidence in that regard.

Naturally, the loss and lingering mental impact of Benitez's absence—his shirt was retired by the national federation—will be an unenviable challenge to overcome for the players, though they could also use that as an inspiration to reach greater heights than expected.

Ecuador will have to use the number 11 shirt in the World Cup, Fifa have confirmed. It has been vacant since the death of Chucho Benitez.

— Adam Brandon (@caniggiascores) March 7, 2014

A fast start will be needed, though, with defeat to Switzerland in the opening game an unthinkable possibility if they want to progress.

An ageing back-line is also potentially a problem for Ecuador. Left-back and former captain Walter Ayovi is 34, while Jorge Guagua, who started centrally in the Australia game, is 32.

Conclusions and Prediction

Ecuador's set-up and game plan is relatively consistent; they know their limitations and Rueda has certainly laid out the best way to get the most of the attacking talents at their disposal.

Will that be enough to see off the challenge of Switzerland? It will be close, but that game, even as early as it comes, could be the one which dictates who goes through to the knock-out stages.

With France being their final opponents, Ecuador cannot afford a slow start to their World Cup. It's almost certainly all got to go right for them in the opening two games, and that's an awful lot to ask with their relatively limited options. 

Prediction: Exit at the Group Stage, third in Group E.

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