Netherlands vs Ecuador: Both teams on cusp of knockout stage
Netherlands vs Ecuador: Both teams on cusp of knockout stage
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World Cup 2022: Netherlands vs Ecuador odds, preview and tips
Netherlands and Ecuador got their World Cup campaigns off to winning starts in Group A, so both nations will be eyeing a place in the knockout stage on Friday.
A double from former Everton and West Ham striker Enner Valencia gave Ecuador a 2-0 victory against World Cup hosts Qatar in the curtain-raiser and the Dutch needed two late goals to beat Senegal by the same scoreline.
Dutch coach Louis van Gaal accused his players of “being shoddy and messy in possession” against a Senegal team missing talisman Sadio Mane, but admitted “we gave away very few chances” as the Netherlands stretched their unbeaten run to 16 games.
The three-time World Cup runners-up finished top of their qualifying group with a 2-0 victory over Norway on the final day and were impressive in the Nations League during which they beat Belgium twice to book their spot in the finals.
We expect Friday’s match to be an improvement on Monday’s stodgy fare which was settled by Cody Gakpo’s header and a stoppage-time finish from Davy Klaassen, who capitalised on Edouard Mendy’s save.
Ecuador booked their spot at the World Cup by taking the fourth and final spot having held Brazil and Argentina to draws at home, but their first match of the finals came against a limited team, so this will be their first true test.
Bearing in mind both teams won their opening games, the draw at 12/5 in the World Cup betting has its merits. The Dutch do not not need to bust a gut knowing they face Qatar in their final group game.
Netherlands vs Ecuador head to head
Both of the meetings between these nations came this century, with Holland winning the first friendly in 2006 and the second ending in a 1-1 draw in a warm-up to the 2014 World Cup eight years ago.
Dutch striker Memphis Depay, joint top scorer of all qualifying nations with 12 goals, had been expected to miss the Senegal game with a hamstring injury, but came off the bench to play “an important role”, according to Van Gaal.
Denzel Dumfries had been struggling with a knee injury but started against the African Cup of Nations champions.
For Ecuador, Valencia took a few hefty challenges from Qatar and was replaced with 15 minutes remaining, but head coach Gustavo Alfaro is optimistic the striker will be fit.
Steven Bergwijn looked lively in the first match and is 4/1 and 17/10 in the two markets, while Gakpo is 11/2 and 11/5.
Valencia, who opened the scoring from the penalty spot shortly after having an effort ruled out for a marginal offside, is 7/1 to break the deadlock or 14/5 to score, with Michael Estrada 17/2 and 10/3.
