ECUADOR vs. FRANCE
Date: June 25, 2014
Time: 4:00 p.m. EDT
Venue: Maracana - Estadio Jornalista Mario Filho, Rio de Janeiro
Overall Head-to-Head Record (W-L-T): 1-0-0 France
Last Match: 2008 Friendly. France def. Ecuador 2-0.
Line: France -150
Group E Preview here.
Starting Lineups posted separately once they're announced.
Team Profiles
World Ranking: Ecuador (26th), France (17th)
Managers: Reinaldo Rueda (ECU), Didier Deschamps (FRA)
Captains: Antonio Valencia (ECU), Hugo Lloris (FRA)
World Cup Appearances: 3 (ECU), 14 (FRA)
Best Finish: Ecuador (Round of 16, 2006), France (Champions, 1998)
Qualifying Records: Ecuador (7-5-4, GF: 20, GA: 16), France (5-2-3, GF: 18, GA: 8)
Previous Game Results
Ecuador
France
June 15th - France def. Honduras 3-0
June 20th - France def. Switzerland 5-2
Rosters
Injuries/Discipline
France: Yohan Cabaye (Suspended - Card Accumulation), Patrice Evra (Yellow Card), Paul Pogba (Yellow Card), Mamadou Sakho (Questionable - Thigh)
Overview
It would take nothing short of a miracle for France to finish anywhere but first in this group. Meanwhile Ecuador likely need to upset what his been to-date the best team in the tournament if they want to continue their run in this World Cup.
It's desperation time for Ecuador. Currently second in Group E but with Switzerland likely facing a win against Honduras at the same time, Ecuador will have to find a way to top the French in order to secure a place in the knockout round.
France will definitely be without one starter this game as Yohan Cabaye is suspended due to an accumulation of yellow cards. Will be interesting to see if Didier Deschamps wants to rest players in this match or keep their fantastic momentum going through to next game.
Regardless of personnel, France will be a tough out for Ecuador. Very strong defensively but absolutely deadly on the attack. Karim Benzema leads the way with 3 goals but could easily have 6 to his credit already. If he plays, shutting down Benzema is of the utmost importance for the Ecuador defence.
Ecuador have their own striker making waves in this tournament though. Still a relative rookie internationally, Enner Valencia has all 3 Ecuador goals this tournament and will be counted on as the best chance Ecuador have of defeating France today.
Personnel
Operating under the assumption France does not sit players
In the Ecuadoran Third: This could be another bloodbath. Ecuador are easily drawn out of position and can lose track of players in the defensive end. That plays exactly in to what France wants. France have scoring from everywhere and are great at playing balls to places the defence isn't, knowing a French player will be there. Ecuador have to be aware at all times of where the French attackers are and that still probably won't be enough to stop them. Advantage: France.
In the Midfield: No Cabaye for France but wouldn't expect Ecuador to celebrate too much as France have loads of players they can plug in all over the field without missing a beat. France's ball movement in the midfield is superb and they can get the ball forward quickly in no time at all. May be a bit more passive defensively today but Ecuador will be on their heels here without the ball. Advantage: France.
In the French Third: They let off against the Swiss up 5-0 but this is an impressive French back line. There were concerns about the inexperience in the middle but Varane and Sakho have proved more then up to the task. Ecuador have gotten a bevy of goals from Valencia but aren't the best when it comes to creating and setting up chances and France should smother them in their own third. Advantage: France.
Goalkeeping: Lloris far and away the class of the group in goal. Advantage: France.
It's desperation time for Ecuador. Currently second in Group E but with Switzerland likely facing a win against Honduras at the same time, Ecuador will have to find a way to top the French in order to secure a place in the knockout round.
France will definitely be without one starter this game as Yohan Cabaye is suspended due to an accumulation of yellow cards. Will be interesting to see if Didier Deschamps wants to rest players in this match or keep their fantastic momentum going through to next game.
Regardless of personnel, France will be a tough out for Ecuador. Very strong defensively but absolutely deadly on the attack. Karim Benzema leads the way with 3 goals but could easily have 6 to his credit already. If he plays, shutting down Benzema is of the utmost importance for the Ecuador defence.
Ecuador have their own striker making waves in this tournament though. Still a relative rookie internationally, Enner Valencia has all 3 Ecuador goals this tournament and will be counted on as the best chance Ecuador have of defeating France today.
Personnel
Operating under the assumption France does not sit players
In the Ecuadoran Third: This could be another bloodbath. Ecuador are easily drawn out of position and can lose track of players in the defensive end. That plays exactly in to what France wants. France have scoring from everywhere and are great at playing balls to places the defence isn't, knowing a French player will be there. Ecuador have to be aware at all times of where the French attackers are and that still probably won't be enough to stop them. Advantage: France.
In the Midfield: No Cabaye for France but wouldn't expect Ecuador to celebrate too much as France have loads of players they can plug in all over the field without missing a beat. France's ball movement in the midfield is superb and they can get the ball forward quickly in no time at all. May be a bit more passive defensively today but Ecuador will be on their heels here without the ball. Advantage: France.
In the French Third: They let off against the Swiss up 5-0 but this is an impressive French back line. There were concerns about the inexperience in the middle but Varane and Sakho have proved more then up to the task. Ecuador have gotten a bevy of goals from Valencia but aren't the best when it comes to creating and setting up chances and France should smother them in their own third. Advantage: France.
Goalkeeping: Lloris far and away the class of the group in goal. Advantage: France.
Ecuador will win if:
Rotate well defensively for 90 minutes and prevent France from getting open men in their penalty area or clear shots. Offensively, have to use their wingers to get behind Debuchy and Evra and allow them to get downfield and find ways to deliver the ball to Enner Valencia in the centre.
France will win if:
No changes need to be made. Keep up the free-flowing movement of the ball offensively and understand when the play is gone and get back defensively when necessary. Has been no team more impressive in group play then this French side. Don't change what you don't have to in a short tournament like this.
Ecuador is the latest team to feel the French wrath in this tournament, whether they rest players or not.
France 3-0 Ecuador
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