| Outright Odds: 300/1 Group A Winners: 9/1 | | | | in defence. Captain Ivan Hurtado, a 31-year old veteran |
| Ecuador qualified for their second World Cup finals in | | | | with nearly 130 caps to his name is partnered by |
| succession on the back of a remarkable home record | | | | Giovany Espinoza who was the only player in South |
| which included victories over both Brazil and Argentina. | | | | America to play in all 18 qualifying matches. For all this |
| So should punters rush out and lump on the huge 3001/ | | | | experience, the defence can be caught flat and, if |
| (Bet365) odds available for the largest upset in World | | | | Espinoza is taken out of the reckoning, is all over the |
| Cup history? In short, no. | | | | place when high balls are played in the box. They are |
| Ecuador qualified with one of the most lopsided | | | | also weak in terms of goalkeeping. |
| qualifying record of any team competing in Germany | | | | Ecuador have moved away from the short-passing |
| this summer. Quito, the country's capital, stands 2,850 | | | | through the middle which has categorised their game in |
| metres above sea level and assisted by the thin air, | | | | favour of striking quickly down the wings. In Edison |
| Ecuador were almost unstoppable at home. They won | | | | Mendez, who scored the winning goal against Croatia |
| seven out nine home games, including victories against | | | | and five goals in qualifying, they have a player who |
| the South American giants with the other two results | | | | can cause problems. There are also high hopes |
| goalless draws against Peru and Uruguay. | | | | surrounding Luis Antonio Valencia, 20, who chipped in |
| Away from home it was an entirely different story. | | | | with another three. |
| Five defeats, two draws and one victory in the equally | | | | Former Southampton flop Augustin Delgado is |
| high altitude of Bolivia was perhaps a more realistic | | | | Ecuador's main focal point in attack. He netted five |
| measure of their capabilities but overall they sealed | | | | times in qualifying and scored his country's first ever |
| third place in the group. | | | | World Cup goal, taking the lead after five minutes |
| Ecuador will have to improve on their travels if they | | | | against Mexico in a match they eventually lost 2-1. |
| want to avoid humiliation in Germany. Their stint in the | | | | Ecuador's lack of experience in Europe could prove to |
| 2002 World Cup was their first but they have the | | | | be their downfall as they have only played three full |
| victory over the third-placed team of 1998, Croatia, to | | | | internationals on the continent and they looked |
| draw inspiration from. | | | | completely overawed when playing Italy four years |
| Potentially, they could be a tough team to break down | | | | ago. They will do well not to finish bottom of the group. |