Netherlands vs Ecuador – Group Stage – Preview & Prediction | 2022 FIFA World Cup
THE FACTS
When is Netherlands vs Ecuador on and what time does it start? Netherlands vs Ecuador will take place on Friday 25th November, 2022 – 16:00 (UK)
Where is Netherlands vs Ecuador taking place? Netherlands vs Ecuador will take place at Khalifa International Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar
Where can I get tickets for Netherlands vs Ecuador? Visit this link for the latest ticket information for Netherlands vs Ecuador
What channel is Netherlands vs Ecuador on in the UK? Netherlands vs Ecuador will be televised live on ITV
Where can I stream Netherlands vs Ecuador in the UK? Netherlands vs Ecuador can be streamed live on the ITV Hub
THE LOWDOWN
NETHERLANDS
- Netherlands left it late to overcome Senegal in an underwhelming affair but the Dutch will be content to have claimed the victory in their opening game of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
- They now take on Ecuador as they aim to make it two wins from two and with no injury concerns, Luis van Gaal may opt to stick with the same starting XI for this clash but Memphis Depay should be fit enough to start and could come into the side.
ECUADOR
- Ecuador had little trouble in overcoming hosts Qatar in their first clash of the FWC and they will hold no fear ahead of this clash with the Netherlands with top spot in Group A up for grabs.
- Enner Valencia notched a breach in that opener with his goals enough for Ecuador to claim a 2-0 victory and while their all-time top-scorer went off with a slight knock in that contest, he is expected to be fit enough to lead the line here.
THE TEAM NEWS
NETHERLANDS
PREDICTED XI (3-4-1-2): Noppert; de Ligt, van Dijk, Ake; Dumfries, de Jong, Berghuis, Blind; Gakpo; Bergwijn, Depay
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE:
ECUADOR
PREDICTED XI (4-4-2): Galindez; Preciado, Torres, Hincapie, Estupinan; Plata, Mendez, Caicedo, Ibarra; Valencia, Sarmiento
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE: Enner Valencia (Injured)
THE KEY STATS
- Excluding penalty shoot-outs, the Netherlands have lost only one of their last 15 FIFA World Cup matches (W12 D2)
- Excluding penalty shoot-outs, the Netherlands have lost only two of their previous 14 World Cup matches against South American opposition (W8 D4)
- Remarkably, the Netherlands have only ever lost two out of 31 group stage matches at the FIFA World Cup (this includes first and second group stage). The only teams to have defeated the Dutch in group matches are Scotland (1978) and Belgium (1994)
- The Netherlands have won their first two matches in each of their last three World Cup final competition appearances (2006, 2010 and 2014)
- The Netherlands have scored two or more goals in ten of their last 13 World Cup matches
- The Netherlands are unbeaten in their last 14 group stage matches at the FIFA World Cup (W11 D3), and are currently on a seven-match winning streak in the group stage
- The Netherlands have kept a clean sheet in each of their last four World Cup matches. This is the best sequence of clean sheets for the Dutch in World Cup history
- Against Senegal, Louis van Gaal (71y 105d) became the third oldest coach in World Cup history after Otto Rehhagel (71y 317d) with Greece in 2010 and Óscar Tabárez (71y 125d) with Uruguay in 2018
- The Netherlands are unbeaten in their last 16 international matches (W12 D4), all since Louis van Gaal was appointed coach in August 2021
- The Netherlands have only failed to score in one of their last 29 international matches
- Ecuador are unbeaten in their last three World Cup matches (W2 D1). They have never previously had a four-match unbeaten streak at the finals
- Ecuador are aiming to equal their achievement at the 2006 final competition when they won their opening two matches
- Ecuador have lost only one of their last 16 international matches (W6 D9)
- Only one of Ecuador’s previous 11 World Cup matches has finished level (W5 L5)
- Ecuador have faced European opposition at the FIFA World Cup on seven previous occasions (W2 D1 L4)
- Ecuador have kept a clean sheet in each of their last seven international matches
- Ecuador's last five FIFA World Cup goals have been scored by Enner Valencia
- Enner Valencia has scored five goals in his previous four World Cup appearances for Ecuador
- Against Qatar, Enner Valencia became the oldest goalscorer for Ecuador in FIFA World Cup history at 33y 16d surpassing Agustin Delgado (31y 174d v Costa Rica 15/06/2006)
- Against Qatar, Hernan Galindez (35y 235d) became the oldest player to feature for Ecuador in a World Cup match. The previous oldest was Edison Mendez v Honduras (20/06/2014) at 35y 96d
THE PREDICTION
Netherlands and Ecuador will both have their sights set on finishing at the top of the group but this game is likely to separate the pair and determine which side finishes at the summit. Both won by a 2-0 scoreline to open their accounts and that sets this clash up nicely. Netherlands have some improving to do going forward while Ecuador had little trouble carving open Qatar, although the level of opposition will be hugely different in this matchup. However, this should be a relatively open game with the pair going for the win and there should be goals at either end in this one.
TIP: BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE
