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Ecuador in the World Cup with controversies

Kriralok Desk: Ecuador is going to represent Latin America in the FIFA World Cup for the third time. However, there is a lot of controversies in their participation this time. There were even fears that Ecuador might be banned from the World Cup in Qatar. However, in the end, the situation did not turn out that way. Ecuador is going to play with relief in Qatar World Cup.

Ecuador on the way to Qatar:

Four countries directly from Latin America have booked tickets for the World Cup in Qatar. As always, the qualifying round of 10 teams were held in the double league system. After their 18 matches, Ecuador got the fourth place. 26 points have been added to their possession. The team has won seven matches. Lost six and drew five matches. Ecuador scored 19 goals against 27 goals in the qualifying round.


Mitchell Estrada scored the maximum six goals for Ecuador in the World Cup qualifiers. In addition, Valencia scored four goals. Gonzalo Plata has three goals. Moises Caicedo, Pervis Estupinan, Angel Mena, and Felix Torres scored two goals each. Ecuador is not really a single star team. Rather, there is no world star in this team. But they are coming to the World Cup by showing team performance topping teams like Peru, Colombia, Paraguay and Chile. Which is the biggest strength of Ecuador.

Threat of sanctions in front of Ecuador:

After the World Cup qualification ended, Chile made serious accusations against Ecuador. They allege that Ecuador played in World Cup qualifiers with illegal footballers. According to their claim, Ecuador has resorted to cheating in playing defender Byron Castillo. According to the Chilean Football Federation, Ecuadorian defender Castillo was born in 1995, in Tumaco, Colombia. However, Ecuador states in its documents that Castillo was born in 1998 in the city of Plais, Ecuador. Chile accused Ecuador of using fake passports and birth certificates to let Castillo play.

However, in June of this year, FIFA investigated the matter and dismissed Chile’s complaint. They found no truth in Chile’s allegations. However, Chile did not accept FIFA’s decision. Chile again appealed against the ruling to the FIFA Court of Arbitration for Sports. Later, they decided to file a complaint against FIFA’s decision in the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
When FIFA was trying to put an end to the matter, some influential media in Europe, including the “Daily Mail”, reported that Castillo’s fake birth certificate had been found. Castillo admitted to forging the birth certificate in an interview with investigators four years ago. The audio of that interview has been published by ‘Daily Mail’ online.


Castillo reportedly admitted to investigators that he was born in 1995. But his year of birth is 1998 in the document made by Ecuador. Name on Colombian birth certificate—Byron Javier Castillo Segura. Another name used on the Ecuadorian birth certificate—Byron David Castillo Segura. Castillo also talked a lot about leaving Tumaco, Colombia for San Lorenzo, Ecuador to pursue a football career. He came to Ecuador through a businessman named Marco Zambrano. He is the one who helped in making the charter under the new name Castillo. Controversial Castillo also gave information about that businessman.


Chile demanded full points for two matches against Ecuador. If so, it would be a problem. Because, at that time, Ecuador’s points were reduced to 20. And Chile had 25. In that case, Chile hoped to play in the World Cup instead of Ecuador. But the problem did not end here. In that case, others also claimed two match points against Ecuador. Then the whole Latin selection phase would be in question. Moreover, FIFA’s image was also in crisis. Because Castillo received the FIFA collin-cheat. But in the end, nothing happened. After the FIFA court, the Court of Arbitration for Sports did not come to any different verdict. So Ecuador survived.


It is to be noted that Bolivia gave birth to the same incident in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers. They made defender Nelson play, who started his career for Paraguay. According to FIFA rules, playing for a new country requires living in that country for at least five years. But after four years of residence, Bolivia was removed from the selection by FIFA.

World Cup history of Ecuador:

In 2002, Ecuador got the opportunity to participate in the Japan-South Korea World Cup for the first time. In the first two matches they lost to Italy and Mexico. In the second match against Mexico, the representatives of Latin lost 1-2 goals in the end despite going ahead at the beginning. However, Javier Delgado scored a goal in five minutes and wrote his name in the pages of history. He became the first goal scorer for Ecuador in World Cup football.


In the last match, Ecuador won their first victory in the history of the World Cup. That came against Croatia. Edison Mendez scored the only goal for Ecuador. Although in the end, Ecuador left the World Cup from the bottom of the group.


Ecuador was also qualified for the 2006 World Cup. In the first two matches of the group stage, they won against Poland and Costa Rica and reached the knock out stage. They were eliminated from the knockout stage after losing to hosts Germany in the last match of the group. They fought hard against England in the knock out phase and lost with David Beckham’s only goal. Despite losing, Germany left Ecuador with the highest success in the World Cup and winning everyone’s hearts.
Ecuador could not reach the group stage in 2014. Lost in the first match against Switzerland. They beat Honduras in the next match. Draw against strong France. Ecuador left the World Cup stage with 4 points in the third place in the group.
History says that Ecuador has always proved itself as a fighting team despite participating in the World Cup football only three times. The country did not return without winning at least one event. In the World Cup, they lost five of the total 10 matches, but they have five wins. A draw. It is certain that the Latin country will not leave anyone out at the World Cup in Qatar.

Ecuador’s best star footballer:

The title of the best star footballer of the Ecuador team can be given to Ener Valencia. This 32-year-old footballer has played 74 matches for the country. There are 35 goals. Which is the highest in the history of Ecuador. He has three goals in the 2014 World Cup. One against Switzerland and two goals against Honduras.


Valencia played in the English Premier League for West Ham and Everton. Currently playing in Turkey’s best club Fenerbahçe. He has scored 141 goals in 483 matches in club football so far. He has already scored 11 goals in 15 matches in the 2022-23 season. However, Valencia, who scored only one goal in seven matches in the national team in 2022, is waiting to give his best in his second World Cup.

Other stars:

20-year-old Moises Caicedo could be Ecuador’s trump card. The talented midfield star has played 25 matches for the country. He also scored two goals against Uruguay and Chile in World Cup qualifiers. He scored his first goal in the national team jersey against Uruguay on October 13, 2020. He made his debut in the previous match against Argentina. And he was 18 when he scored his first goal against Uruguay. In the 21st century, no other football ‘conmable’ has scored a World Cup qualifying goal at a younger age than Moyes. Moses is playing club football in Brighton, England. He has played in 9 matches of the English Premier League this season. Scored 1 goal. This midfielder has 9 goals in 62 matches in club football.


Ecuador’s Mitchell Estrada is one of the hopes of the team. The 26-year-old forward scored 8 goals in 31 matches for the country. Scored the most 6 goals for Ecuador in the World Cup qualifiers. Currently playing for Mexico’s Club Cruz Azul. The 6 ft 2 inch forward is very dangerous as he floats in the air. You can use the opportunity to come forward at any moment in the box. Estrada can become a big star in Qatar World Cup.
Angel Mena is one of the spearheads of Ecuador’s attack in the winger position. This 34-year-old star has been playing in the national team since 2015. So far he has scored 7 goals in 40 matches for the country. He has a goal against Brazil in the 2021 Copa America. The match was drawn 1-1. That too in the field of Brazil. He also owns 101 goals in 421 matches in club football. Since 2019, he has been in Mexico’s club Leon.


Another winger, Gonzalo Plata, plays in Spain’s Valladolid. He has played 28 matches for the country in just 21 years. Scored five goals. Three of which are again in the World Cup qualifiers. Played in Portugal’s best club Sporting Lisbon. This young winger has 13 goals in 87 matches in club football.


Piero Hincapie s playing for Bayer Leverkusen in Germany at the age of 20. In the 2021-22 season, he played 27 matches in the Bundesliga. And in all played 33 matches. He scored two goals while playing in the center back position. Hincapie is a cool defender. Fewer mistakes. He has one goal in 21 matches for the country.


Ecuador’s goalkeeper Alexander Dominguez is one of the experienced stars of the team. The 35-year-old keeper has played 63 international matches. Currently playing in the Colombian League. Played World Cup for Ecuador in 2014. He was the man of the match against France. His struggle to keep a clean sheet against Karim Benzema, Olivier Giroud and Paul Pogba is still remembered by many.

Ecuador’s Strategy:

Argentina’s sole dominance in Ecuador’s coaching squad known as ‘La Tri’. The team’s main coach, Gustavo Alvaro, has three assistants from Argentina. Even their keeping and fitness coaches are from the same country. Alvaro plays Uruguay in a 4-3 formation. Under the former Boca Juniors coach, Ecuador’s game often has an Argentinian feel to it. Which was played by Albceleste before Lionel Scolani. As the coach of Ecuador, Álvaro stood in the dugout in 31 matches. Won 11 matches. 12 draws and 8 losses.


Ecuador coach’s preferred XI is – Alexander Dominguez (goalkeeper), Pervis Estupinan, Piero Hinicapie, Felix Torres, Angelop Presidio, Moises Caicedo, Sebas Mendez, Carlos Gruejo, Ener Valencia, Mitchell Estrada, Angel Mena.
Alvaro wants to play with his favorite XI in Qatar.

Target for World Cup:


Ecuador has not won any major football titles so far. Their best achievements are the knock-out stage in World Cup football and finishing fourth twice in the continental Copa America. They have won the title only once in history. That too is an invitational trophy on Canadian soil. Canada, Iran and Guatemala participated in that event in 1999.


Ecuador will play in the ‘A’ group in the upcoming World Cup in Qatar. Where their opponents are hosts Qatar, Senegal and Holland. Ecuador, which is in the 44th position of the FIFA ranking, is far behind Senegal and Holland. Where Senegal is number 18, Holland is in the top ten. The name of Holland is also in the list of favorites for the upcoming World Cup. On the other hand, Qatar is getting the added advantage of being the host last. Therefore, there is a high possibility that Ecuador will leave the group stage in 2022. And the coach of the team, Alvaro himself, has targeted the ‘knock out phase’. In other words, it will be a big success for Ecuador if they can reach the group stage.


Before the World Cup, Ecuador were unbeaten in their last five matches until October. Won against Nigeria and Ivory Coast. Draw against Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Japan. It can be said that Ecuador is going to the World Cup with a very cheerful spirit.


Ecuador will take on the host Qatar on the opening day of the World Cup on November 20.


Ecuador’s Probable Squad:


The final XI of the World Cup will be announced in November. For the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic, FIFA has decided to have 26 footballers in the World Cup squad. This rule was also in the last European Championship. And in Copa America, 28 players were kept in each squad. Alvaro called up 29 footballers for the last two international friendlies against Saudi Arabia and Japan in September. From there he will fly to Qatar with 26 players.

Goalkeepers: Alexander Dominguez, Moises Ramirez, Hernan Galindez, Gonzalo Valle


Defence: Pervis Estupinan, Angelo Preciado, Piero Hinicapie, Xavier Arreaga, Diego Palacios, Byron Castillo, Fernando Leon, Jackson Porozo, William Pacho.


Midfield: Carlos Guajo, Angel Mena, Jhegson Mendez, Romario Ibarra, Moises Caicedo, Elan Franco, Jose Cifuentes, Jeremy Sarmiento, Nelson Angelo, Patrick Delgado, Anthony Valencia.


Forwards: Forwards: Ener Valencia, Mitchell Estrada, Djorkaeff Reasco.

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