Ecuador and Saudi Arabia don gather for international friendly match for Sports Illustrated Stadium for Harrison, New Jersey. Dis one na only second time di two countries go face each other, after dem first meet for September 2022 wey end goalless draw.
Ecuador dey prepare for dia fifth World Cup appearance for North America, where dem don land for Group E alongside Germany, Cote d’Ivoire and debutants Curacao. La Tri secure qualification after finishing second for CONMEBOL standings, losing only two of 18 matches, wey be fewer pass any other nation. Dem also concede only two goals for dia last 12 qualifiers after Sebastian Beccacece take over from Felix Sanchez.
Di South Americans go begin dia campaign on June 15 for Philadelphia Stadium against Ivory Coast, as dem aim to surpass dia historic 2006 performance for Germany, where dem reach round of 16 before England knock dem out. Beccacece go use friendly matches against Saudi Arabia and Guatemala to prepare im squad.
Ecuador enter di match unbeaten for dia last six matches, all friendlies, with one victory over New Zealand for November and draws against Netherlands, Morocco, Canada, Mexico and United States.
For Saudi Arabia side, dem don change coach just two months before World Cup. Dem part ways with Herve Renard and appoint former Al Khaleej manager Georgios Donis, who go now lead di Green Falcons for di tournament. Saudi Arabia dey prepare for dia seventh World Cup appearance, after debuting for 1994 and competing for every edition until 2006, before missing 2010 and 2014, but return for 2018 and 2022.
Di Green Falcons don land for Group H alongside Spain, Uruguay and debutants Cape Verde. Dia opening group match against Uruguay dey scheduled for June 15, so dem arrange two high-profile friendlies against Ecuador and Senegal within 10 days as part of dia preparations.
Having famously stun Argentina during 2022 World Cup for Qatar, di Green Falcons now hope to equal or surpass dia best-ever World Cup performance, wey be run to round of 16 for USA 1994.
Ecuador form for all competitions na DDDWDD, while Saudi Arabia form na WLWLLL.
Ecuador yet to officially confirm dia final World Cup squad, but Beccacece get advantage of selecting from 34-man group invited for di upcoming friendlies, with captain Enner Valencia joined by Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo and highly rated youngster Kendry Paez among di headline names. However, Arsenal defender Piero Hincapie and Paris Saint-Germain centre-back Willian Pacho go miss di match due to dia involvement for dis weekend’s UEFA Champions League final for Budapest.
New Saudi Arabia head coach Donis don select experienced preliminary 30-man squad largely made up of domestic-based players, including captain Salem Al-Dawsari, France-based defender Saud Abdulhamid and five members of recently crowned AFC Champions League winners Al Ahli. Saud Abdulhamid link up with di Saudi squad for New York on Thursday after completing required documentation procedures to represent di national team. Di only fitness concern for Donis remain goalkeeper Nawaf Al-Aqidi, wey dey continue im rehabilitation programme under supervision of medical staff but could still feature against Ecuador on Sunday.
Ecuador possible starting lineup: Valle; Franco, Ordonez, Torres, Estupinan; M. Caicedo, Vite, Paez; Yeboah, Plata, E. Valencia. Saudi Arabia possible starting lineup: Al-Owais; Abdulhamid, Al-Tambakti, Thikri, Kadish; Kanno, Al-Juwayr, Al-Shamat, Al-Dawsari; Al-Hamdan, Al-Buraikan.
As dis na preparatory fixture ahead of FIFA World Cup after demanding domestic season, both managers expected to prioritise tactical adjustments and squad assessment over intensity. Ecuador go determined to maintain dia unbeaten run, while Donis go eager to begin im tenure positively and gradually implement im style of play with di Saudi squad, wey make low-scoring draw appear di most likely outcome.
