Copa America 2015 Preview: Ecuador
Overview
A new era in Ecuadorian football is set to kick off as La Tri look to re-establish themselves among South America's elite after a disappointing World Cup and prove they can indeed earn positive results away from the altitude of Quito.
While success in the Copa America would go a long way to dispel the myth that Ecuador only wins when its opponent is gasping for oxygen at the Estadio Olimpico Atahualpa, it's been a long time since the tournament smiled on the country that encompasses the Amazon rain forest, the Andean highlands, and the Galapagos Islands.
Ecuador has been eliminated in the group stage of the Copa America's past five editions, amassing a catastrophic record of one win, one draw, and 13 losses over the last 16 years.
Furthermore, they're one of only three South American national teams to have never won the competition, while their best showings are a pair of semifinal appearances, both of which came when - that's right - they were the host.
Those are some ugly statistics.
Leading the revolution will be Gustavo Quinteros, who was announced as Ecuador's new manager at the end of January after guiding Emelec to back-to-back Serie A titles in 2013 and 2014. His appointment is viewed as a positive step in the tiny country's journey to take its football to the next level, particularly given his knowledge of Ecuador's domestic league.
On the pitch, meanwhile, the absence of Antonio Valencia is cause for concern. He'll miss the Copa America after undergoing ankle surgery, and Ecuador's impressive World Cup qualifying campaign was carried in large part by his right foot.
His unavailability could be a blessing in disguise, however: La Tri have come to rely too heavily on Valencia in recent years, and Ecuador will now have the opportunity to experiment with fresh offensive tactics, as Quinteros is surely aware.
The presence of Jefferson Montero on the left flank and Enner Valencia in front of goal will also diminish the blow. Ecuador is far from short on attacking options, and having been placed in a relatively weak Group A, there are no excuses for a sixth consecutive group-stage elimination.
Group Stage Schedule
| Date | Match | Time | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 - 06 - 11 | Chile vs. Ecuador | 20:30 | Estadio Nacional Julio Martinez Pradanos |
| 2015 - 06 - 15 | Ecuador vs. Bolivia | 18:00 | Estadio Elias Figueroa Brander |
| 2015 - 06 - 19 | Mexico vs. Ecuador | 18:00 | Estadio El Teniente |
All times are listed in local time
Projected Starting XI
Alexander Dominguez; Juan Carlos Paredes, Frickson Erazo, Arturo Mina, Walter Ayovi; Renato Ibarra, Christian Noboa, Michael Arroyo, Jefferson Montero; Enner Valencia, Miler Bolanos
Any suggestion that Quinteros would venture from Ecuador's traditional 4-4-2 formation was instantly shot down following his first set of friendlies at the helm in March, as La Tri took the pitch against both Argentina and Mexico in typical fashion.
Although injuries to Antonio Valencia and Felipe Caicedo could conceivably force Quinteros to make a last-minute alteration or two, it's extremely unlikely that Ecuador deploys anything but a 4-4-2 at the Copa America.
El Capitan
The captain's armband continues to bounce back and forth between Antonio Valencia and Walter Ayovi.
After the tragic death of Christian Benitez in 2013, former manager Reinaldo Rueda felt a change of captaincy would be an appropriate response to a squad that had suffered "a huge blow," deciding to appoint Valencia in Ayovi's place.
Then, in Ecuador's final match of the group stage at last year's World Cup - a game that marked their exit from the competition - Valencia was shown a straight red card in cruel fashion, and proceeded to hand the captain's armband to Ayovi as he exited the pitch.
With Valencia ruled out of the Copa America due to ankle surgery, the role of captain will almost certainly fall on the 35-year-old left-back's arm once again.
Ayovi's experience goes beyond that of any other player on Ecuador's squad. Despite his lack of speed, like a fine wine, his ability to command a backline hasn't diminished with age.
Oh, and if Ayovi is able to pop one of his trademark free-kicks into the back of the net, that would be a welcome boost for La Tri.
The Star
Because of its diverse topography, which includes rain forest, mountains, and beaches, Ecuador is commonly referred to as a microcosm of South America: a place where all of the continent's landscapes can be experienced within a confined area.
Similarly, Jefferson Montero is the epitome of the South American footballer, embodying the qualities that define Third World players.
His blistering pace allows him to humiliate opponents on the left flank. So quick are his feet that he can simply kick the ball ahead of a defender, run past him, and collect the ball as he cuts towards goal. He makes it look remarkably simple, too, as if it's a skill that every winger should naturally possess.
South American football expert Tim Vickery rated the 25-year-old as South America’s top player after Lionel Messi and Neymar ahead of last year's World Cup. While the comparison may seem laughable to some, Montero is the real deal.
The Young Gun
Ecuador is in a transitional phase that will see Quinteros use the Copa America as a means of establishing his starting XI for the two-year marathon of South America's World Cup qualifying campaign.
In the squad's traditional 4-4-2 formation, a vacancy lies alongside Christian Noboa in the central midfield; Segundo Castillo, who previously occupied the role until a knee injury forced him to miss last year's World Cup, wasn't called up for the Copa America.
Looking to fill that hole will be 20-year-old Jonathan Gonzales, a diminutive figure who's the youngest player in Ecuador's squad for the competition.
Gonzales made his debut for La Tri back in October and holds only four international appearances to his name. However, if he can slowly evolve into the type of player Ecuador desperately needs - central midfielders have consistently been the squad's weak spot - he'll be a welcome addition to Quinteros's core.
Burning Questions
- Can Ecuador finally emerge from the group stage after being unable to do so in the past five editions of the Copa America?
- How will Ecuador adjust its tactics to compensate for the absence of Antonio Valencia?
- Where will the goals come from if Enner Valencia is unable to find the back of the net?
Odds and Ends
Nickname: La Tri
Most caps: Ivan Hurtado (167)
Top scorer: Agustin Delgado (31)
Best Copa America result: Semifinals (1959, 1993)