#2014FIFAWORLDCUP: Ecuador 0 - 0 France

Ecuador have been knocked out of the World Cup after drawing 0-0 with France in today's Group E decider in Rio de Janeiro.

Les Bleus enjoyed much of the early possession at the Maracana, with Antoine Griezmann shooting low and wide from distance in the 11th minute.

Shortly afterwards, midfielder Moussa Sissoko swiveled to connect with a dangerous volley that flashed towards goal, but Ecuador goalkeeper Alexander Dominguez was able to save.

Midway through the first half, Ecuador were lucky to escape after a threatening ball from Bacary Sagna skimmed off Karim Benzema's head in front of goal.

Paul Pogba was then responsible for arguably the best chance of the half eight minutes before the break, as he sent a thumping header flying towards the Ecuador top corner, but Dominguez was able to tip the ball over the post.

Just after the restart, the Ecuadorian stopper had to be at his best once again to stop a Griezmann effort, acrobatically tipping the ball over the post.

The South American outfit then found themselves with a mountain to climb just four minutes into the second half, as captain Antonio Valencia was sent off for a studs-up tackle on Lucas Digne.

Nevertheless, Ecuador still threatened, with Cristhian Noboa slipping when well-placed in front of goal and slicing the ball wide in the 55th minute.

Midway through the second half, France spurned a chance to take the lead when Pogba, despite having plenty of space in a dangerous position, proceeded to nod the ball across the Ecuador goal and out for a goal-kick.

In injury time, Les Bleus had another golden opportunity to draw first blood and qualify with a 100% record, but Pogba was once again thwarted by Dominguez.

Read More

#2014FIFAWORLDCUP PREVIEW: Ecuador Vs France

France can make it three World Cup group wins out of three when they face Ecuador at Rio de Janeiro's Maracana on Wednesday evening.

Les Bleus have netted eight goals in their opening two matches and are now looking to ensure that they avoid Argentina in the last 16.

Didier Deschamps's men are all but guaranteed to finish top of Group E because of their superior goal difference, but they could be leapfrogged if Ecuador beat them by four goals.

Deschamps could rest some of his biggest names, with Loic Remy and Laurent Koscielny two of the squad hoping to earn their first starts of the tournament.

Yohan Cabaye is definitely absent after picking up his second yellow card of the tournament.

Ecuador are likely to stick with a similar XI to the side that beat Honduras as they look to oust Switzerland into second place.

This match sees two of the leading goalscorers in action, with both Karim Benzema and Enner Valencia joint-top of the tournament's scoring charts on three goals.

The last time these two sides met was in a friendly in Grenoble six years ago. France won 2-0 that day thanks to a brace from Bafetimbi Gomis.

Recent form

Ecuador: WLDLDW

France: WWWDWW

Possible starting lineups

Ecuador: Dominguez, Paredes, Ayovi, Minda, Guagua, Erazo, Antonio Valencia, Noboa, Enner Valencia, Caicedo, Montero

France: Lloris; Debuchy, Varane, Koscielny, Evra; Sissoko, Schneiderlein, Matuidi; Remy, Giroud, Griezmann

Read More

#2014FIFAWORLDCUP: Honduras 1 - 2 Ecuador

Goals in either half from Enner Valencia were enough to see Ecuador come from behind to beat Honduras in Curitiba.

La Tri had started the brighter and the attacker could have given his team the lead early in the first half, but he sent his effort just wide of Noel Valladares's left-hand post.

Honduras nearly edged in front themselves midway through the half when Victor Bernandez found himself unmarked in the penalty area, but his header was off-target.

Los Catrachos did open the scoring just after the half-hour mark when Valladares went route one and, after evading the attempts of the Ecuadorians to clear, saw the ball fall into the path of Carlo Costly. The veteran calmly slotted his opportunity past a helpless Alexander Dominguez.

However, their lead was to last only a matter of moments when Juan Carlos Paredes hit a dangerous ball across the face of goal, which Brayan Beckeles failed to deal with and Valencia took advantage to equalise.

Honduras thought that they had retaken the lead on the stroke of half time when Costly's header hit the post and rebounded off Jerry Bengston into the Ecuador net, but the goal was ruled out for offside against Bengston.

The Central Americans looked for a second goal after the interval, but were dealt a hammer blow midway through the second period when Walter Ayovi's delivery into the box found Valencia, who coolly gave his side the lead.

Maynor Figueroa had Honduras's best chance of a late equaliser when his speculative effort from range was only inches away from finding the net.

In the end, Ecuador held on for victory and, if they can beat France next week, the South Americans may be able to pip Switzerland to qualification.

Read More

#2014FIFAWORLDCUP PREVIEW: Honduras Vs Ecuador

After both losing their first World Cup matches, Honduras and Ecuador meet in Curitiba on Friday night hoping to get some points on the board in Group E.

Honduras were seen off 3-0 by France, while Ecuador fell to another European side, Switzerland, in their opener.

Stoke City midfielder Wilson Palacios is suspended for the Hondurans after being sent off against France, with Oscar Boniek Garcia in line to replace him in midfield.

Ecuador have no need to make any changes after their heartbreaking defeat to the Swiss, but could shake up the frontline, with Michael Arroyo pushing for a start ahead of former Manchester City man Felipe Caicedo.

These two sides have never met competitively, but have played friendlies aplenty, with five encounters in the last eight years. Ecuador won three, Honduras one, and there was one draw.

The two coaches - Luis Fernando Suarez and Reinaldo Rueda - will be familiar as they are both Colombian.

Recent form

Honduras: LDLLWD

Ecuador: LDLDWD

Possible starting lineups

Honduras: Valladares; Beckeles, Figueroa, Bernardez, Izaguirre; Chavez, Palacios, Garrido, Espinoza; Bengtson, Costly

Ecuador: Dominguez; Guagua, Erazo, Paredes, Noboa, Montero, W Ayovi, Caicedo, E Valencia, A Valencia, Gruezo

Read More

#2014FIFAWORLDCUP: Switzerland 2 - 1 Ecuador

Switzerland have come from behind to earn a dramatic 2-1 win over Group E rivals Ecuador in this evening's encounter at the World Cup.

Despite starting the first half slowly, Switzerland created two decent openings as goalkeeper Alexander Dominguez kept out efforts from Xherdan Shaqiri andRicardo Rodriguez.

However, Ecuador, who posed a persistent threat on the counter-attack, opened the scoring on 22 minutes when Enner Valencia arrived in the box to head home Walter Ayovi's dangerous free kick.

The Swiss refused to be too downhearted after conceding, but they failed to trouble the Ecuadorians for the remainder of the half.

Switzerland coach Ottmar Hitzfeld brought on Admir Mehmedi at half time, and the substitute made an instant impact when he headed in an equaliser with 48 minutes on the clock.

As both teams pushed forward in search of more goals, Ecuador almost turned the game on its head with an hour played as Valencia's fierce drive flashed narrowly wide of the post.

The Ecuadorians went close again minutes later through Jefferson Montero, but the winger saw his effort pushed behind byDiego Benaglio following a quick break.

While Ecuador looked the more likely to score, Switzerland had a goal controversially disallowed on 70 minutes when Josip Drmic's strike was ruled out for offside. The forward was in an onside position when he received the ball from Rodriguez, but the linesman's flag went up nonetheless.

Ecuador came within inches of snatching the points late on when Benaglio reacted quickly to parry away a deflected free kick, though it was the Swiss who found a late winner as Haris Seferovic capped a dynamic counter-attack by firing in with seconds remaining.

Read More

#2014FIFAWORLDCUP PREVIEW: Switzerland Vs Ecuador

Group E top seeds Switzerland will be confidently of getting their 2014 World Cuptournament off to a winning start when they face Ecuador in Brasilia on Sunday.

The Swiss stormed into the top 10 of the FIFA rankings courtesy of their unbeaten qualification campaign under the guidance of experienced tactician Ottmar Hitzfeld.

Unpredictable France may be the group's main attraction, but Switzerland have been far more consistent than Les Bleus over the past 18 months and may fancy their chances of snatching top spot.

To do so, though, they will likely have to pick up maximum points against an Ecuador side that has pace and power in attack, but gaping holes at the other end to address heading into their third World Cup.

These strengths and weaknesses were evident when they held England to a 2-2 draw in their pre-tournament match in Miami a fortnight ago, during whichAntonio Valencia was sent off for tussling with Raheem Sterling.

The Manchester United winger will be available this weekend, though, and will provide counter-attacking speed on the right, while the highly-rated Jefferson Montero will do the same on the other flank.

Former Manchester City striker Felipe Caicedo will try to get on the end of any crosses that they can provide, but will have a tough task netting against a Swiss back line that conceded only six goals in qualifying.

In front of a sturdy back four, the familiarity of Valon Behrami, Blerim Dzemaili and Gokhan Inler, who are all teammates at Napoli, make them equally solid. The flair comes from out wide in the form of experienced wide man Tranquillo Barnetta and reported Liverpool target,Xherdan Shaqiri of Bayern Munich.

Ecuador finished above Luis Suarez's Uruguay in qualifying, though, and will have their own ambitions of reaching the last 16 in favourable conditions, despite a poor record outside of their own borders.

The Swiss are three times quarter-finalists at the World Cup, but not since they hosted in 1954.

Recent form

Switzerland: WWDLWW

Ecuador: DLDWDD

Possible starting lineups

Switzerland: Benaglio; Lichtsteiner, Djourou, Schar, Rodriguez; Inler, Behrami, Inler; Barnetta, Shaqiri, Drmic

Ecuador: Dominguez; Ayovi, Guagua, Erazo, Paredes; Montero, Noboa, Castillo, Valencia; Caicedo, Valencia

Read More