Ecuador Futbol Team

Team Overview

The Ecuador national football team is the national team of Ecuador and is governed by the Federación Ecuatoriana de Fútbol. It was for a long time one of the weaker teams in CONMEBOL, but it has recently had more success, making their first World Cup qualification in 2002, and qualifying again for the 2006 World Cup in which they made the last 16, losing to England.

History

Although without any major tournament achievements until the current millennium, Ecuador was never short of footballing talent.

They first participated in qualifying in the 1962 campaign but were well beaten by Argentina over two games. However, the 1966 qualifying campaign pitted the side, regarded as one of the finest teams Ecuador has ever produced, against 1962 hosts and third-place finishers Chile and a weakened Colombia. Ecuador, featuring stars such as Washington Muñoz, Alberto Spencer, Carlos Raffo, Enrique Raymondi and Jorge Bolaños, forced a play-off in Peru before being eliminated by Chile.

Other talented players to have represented Ecuador include Jose Villafuerte in the 1970s and 1980s.

This remained the closest they had come to appearing in a finals until the qualification tournament for the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea and Japan in which they finished second to Argentina, and one point ahead of Brazil who went on to win the World Cup. Agustin Delgado, with 9 goals, finished joint top scorer in qualifying with Hernán Crespo of Argentina. Álex Aguinaga, Iván Kaviedes, Iván Hurtado and Ulises de la Cruz were other stars of the Ecuadorian campaign, led by Colombian born manager Hernán Darío Bolillo Gómez. Although they were knocked out at the group stage, they achieved a 1-0 victory over Croatia, who had come third at the previous edition of the World Cup.

A disappointing showing at the 2004 Copa América in Peru led to the resignation of Gómez, who was replaced by another Colombian, Luis Fernando Suárez. He lead them successfully through the latter stages of the qualification process for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, finishing third to make the finals. In Germany, they were drawn into Group A with the hosts, Poland, and Costa Rica. Wins over Poland and Costa Rica earned La Tri qualification to the knockout stages for the first time.

Another disappointing showing at yet another Copa America in 2007 and three successive defeats in the 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign led to the end of Suarez time in the national team. He was replaced in 2008 for Sixto Vizuete, who became one of the few Ecuadorians to ever coach the national side.

Their best finish in Copa América was fourth in 1993 (they also finished fourth in the 'extra' South American Championship in 1959).

World Cup Record

1930 to 1938 - Did not enter, 1950 - Withdrew, 1954 - Did not enter, 1958 - Did not enter, 1962 to 1998 - Did not qualify, 2002 - Round 1, 2006 - Round 2

2006 FIFA World Cup

Ecuador qualified for the second time to a FIFA World Cup by finishing third in the CONMEBOL qualification tournament. They were drawn in Group A, alongside hosts Germany, Poland, and Costa Rica.

Ecuador won 2-0 against Poland in their first game in Gelsenkirchen, with goals from Carlos Tenorio and Agustin Delgado sealing the win. They then beat Costa Rica 3-0 in Hamburg, thus securing their qualification to the next round, the goals coming from Carlos Tenorio, Agustin Delgado, and Ivan Kaviedes. Their qualification complete, they rested key players against the hosts Germany and were beaten 3-0. Ecuador thus took second place in-group A behind Germany and faced England in the second round. A second half free kick from David Beckham was the only goal of the game, and Ecuador were eliminated 1-0.