Can the man mountain that is Antonio Valencia lead his team to victory? Probably not…
Top Man
Although he certainly didn’t have a season to remember, Manchester United winger and resident Human Tank, Antonio Valencia, is undoubtedly the muscly man that the rest of the team will look to for leadership. As a result, football fans can expect to see a team of massive men all running along the right-hand touchline with their heads down until they reach the corner flag.
Not really though.
The 28-year-old, with one World Cup under his belt already (2006), will hope that he can lead his team out of Group E but, in order to do so, we reckon that he’ll need to find his footballing form of old. Unfortunately for Ecuador, however, that’s something that’s unlikely to happen between now and their first match against Switzerland on June 15… especially since he left it all the way back in 2011.
Rising Star
Midfielder Carlos Grueza, at the age of just 19, is certainly one to watch for the future and, having spent two seasons playing for one of Ecuador’s top league teams, Barcelona Sporting Club, already has a lot of first-team experience for someone so young.
He recently signed a four-year contract with Bundesliga team VfB Stuttgart and, although he may not start many games during the World Cup, Grueza might just be the man for the job when manager Reinaldo Rueda turns to someone to make a big impact off the bench.
Did you know?
One thing that may spur the Ecuadorian national team on to surprise qualification from their group is the recent and very tragic death of their teammate, Christian ‘Chucho’ Benitez.
The very popular forward, who played for Birmingham back in 2009-10, sadly died in July 2013 following cardiac complications and, although the team and entire nation of Ecuador are still in shock following the 27 year old’s death, they will undoubtedly raise their game in honour and memory of their friend and fellow footballer.
Reasons for Irish fans to support them
Although you may not have realised, every Irish person is actually well versed in one particular Ecuadorian tradition; performing the country’s stirring national anthem.
Full of emotion and passion, we Irish fans will most definitely be joining in with the Ecuador team as they proudly perform ‘Ecuador’ by Sash! before all of their World Cup matches…
If they were a TV series
Do you even need to ask? Isn’t it obvious? Of course it was always going to be Thunder In Paradise; that beloved 90s TV show led by a massively muscly man sporting an incredibly tight yellow top.
Hulk Hogan IS Antonio Valencia.
We’re not sure how the high-powered and hi-tech speedboat fits in though but, to be honest, we don’t really care…
Prediction
Here at JOE HQ, we can’t see La Tri getting out of the group unfortunately, especially as the team struggles massively when not playing at their home ground in Quito, a whopping 9,000 feet above sea level. Most of the team actually play their football in the Ecuadorian league and so, while the heat of the Brazil shouldn’t be a problem, playing football on foreign soil will most likely affect the team’s chances.
They’ll beat Honduras comfortably but defeats against Switzerland and France will see Ecuador finish in third place in Group E.
Tournament odds with Ladbrokes: 150/1
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