Ecuador national football team

Ecuador
Nickname(s) La Tri (Tricolor)
Association Federación Ecuatoriana de Fútbol
Confederation CONMEBOL
(South America)
Head coach Flag of Ecuador Sixto Vizuete (since 2007)
Captain Iván Hurtado
Most caps Iván Hurtado (155)
Top scorer Agustín Delgado (31)
Home stadium Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa
Quito, Ecuador
FIFA code ECU
FIFA ranking 31
Highest FIFA ranking 24 (March 2007)
Lowest FIFA ranking 76 (June 1995)
Elo ranking T39
Highest Elo ranking 20 (October 1997)
Lowest Elo ranking 111 (December 1959)
Team colours Team colours Team colours
Team colours
Team colours
Principal colours
Team colours Team colours Team colours
Team colours
Team colours
Alternate colours
First international
Flag of Bolivia.svg Bolivia 1 - 1 Ecuador Flag of Ecuador
(Bogota, Colombia; 8 August, 1938)
(1938 Bolivarian Games)
Biggest win
Flag of Ecuador Ecuador 6 - 0 Peru Flag of Peru.svg
(Quito, Ecuador; 22 June, 1975)
(Friendly)
Biggest defeat
Flag of Argentina.svg Argentina 12 - 0 Ecuador Flag of Ecuador
(Montevideo, Uruguay; 22 January, 1942)
(1942 South American Championship)
World Cup
Appearances 2 (First in 2002)
Best result Round 2 (2006)
Copa América
Appearances 24 (First in 1939)
Best result Fourth place (1959, 1993)

The Ecuadorian national football team is controlled by the Federación Ecuatoriana de Fútbol and represents Ecuador in international football competitions. 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 it to the last 16, losing to England by 1 goal.

Contents

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).

FIFA World Cup record

Year Round GP W D L GS GA
Flag of South KoreaFlag of Japan 2002 Round 1 3 1 0 2 2 4
Flag of Germany 2006 Round 2 4 2 0 2 5 4
Total 2/18 7 3 0 4 7 8

Korea - Japan 2002

Ecuador qualified for their first FIFA World Cup by finishing second in the CONMEBOL qualification tournament, finishing ahead of Brazil. Ecuador were drawn into Group G, alongside Mexico, Italy, and Croatia.

  1. 3 June 2002 Italy - Ecuador 2-0
  2. 8 June 2002 Ecuador - Mexico 1-2 (Delgado)
  3. 13 June 2002 Ecuador - Croatia 1-0 (Méndez)

Germany 2006

Ecuador qualified for their second FIFA World Cup by finishing third in the CONMEBOL qualification tournament. They were drawn into 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 Agustín Delgado. They then beat Costa Rica 3-0 in Hamburg with goals coming from Carlos Tenorio, Agustín Delgado, and Iván Kaviedes. The win advanced them to the next round. Their qualification complete, they rested key players against the hosts Germany and were beaten 3-0. Ecuador finished second 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.

  1. 9 June 2006 Poland 0 - 2 Ecuador (Tenorio, Delgado)
  2. 15 June 2006 Ecuador 3 - 0 Costa Rica (Delgado, Tenorio, Kaviedes)
  3. 20 June 2006 Ecuador 0 - 3 Germany
  4. 25 June 2006 England 1 - 0 Ecuador

List of goalscorers in World Cups

Player Goal(s) Year(s)
Agustín Delgado 3 2002, 2006
Carlos Tenorio 2 2006
Edison Méndez 1 2002
Iván Kaviedes 1 2006

Copa América record

  • 1916 to 1937 - Did not enter
  • 1939 - Fifth place
  • 1941 - Fifth place
  • 1942 - Seventh place
  • 1945 - Seventh place
  • 1946 - Withdrew
  • 1947 - Sixth place
  • 1949 - Seventh place
  • 1953 - Sixth place
  • 1955 - Seventh place
  • 1956 - Withdrew
  • 1957 - Seventh place
  • 1959 - Withdrew
  • 1959 - Fourth place
  • 1963 - Sixth place
 
  • 1967 - Did not qualify
  • 1975 - Round 1
  • 1979 - Round 1
  • 1983 - Round 1
  • 1987 - Round 1
  • 1989 - Round 1
  • 1991 - Round 1
  • 1993 - Fourth place
  • 1995 - Round 1
  • 1997 - Quarterfinals
  • 1999 - Round 1
  • 2001 - Round 1
  • 2004 - Round 1
  • 2007 - Round 1

Pan American Games record

Current team status

Ecuador is currently participating in the 2010 World Cup qualifiers.

Main article: 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)

2010 FIFA World Cup
Qualification Standings

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Flag of Paraguay.svg Paraguay 10 7 2 1 18 6 +12 23
Flag of Brazil.svg Brazil 10 4 5 1 15 4 +11 17
Flag of Argentina.svg Argentina 10 4 4 2 13 7 +6 16
Flag of Chile.svg Chile 10 5 1 4 14 13 +1 16
Flag of Uruguay.svg Uruguay 10 3 4 3 19 10 +9 13
Flag of Ecuador.svg Ecuador 10 3 3 4 12 17 −5 12
Flag of Colombia.svg Colombia 10 2 5 3 4 8 −4 11
Flag of Venezuela.svg Venezuela 10 3 1 6 12 18 −6 10
Flag of Bolivia.svg Bolivia 10 2 3 5 13 22 −9 9
Flag of Peru.svg Peru 10 1 4 5 5 20 −15 7
  Flag of Argentina Flag of Bolivia Flag of Brazil Flag of Chile Flag of Colombia Flag of Ecuador Flag of Paraguay Flag of Peru Flag of Uruguay Flag of Venezuela
Argentina Flag of Argentina.svg 3–0 R15 2–0 R13 1–1 1–1 R17 2–1 R11
Bolivia Flag of Bolivia.svg R12 R17 0–2 0–0 R16 4–2 3–0 2–2 R13
Brazil Flag of Brazil.svg 0–0 0–0 R16 0–0 5–0 R14 R12 2–1 R18
Chile Flag of Chile.svg 1–0 R14 0–3 4–0 R18 0–3 2–0 R12 R15
Colombia Flag of Colombia.svg 2–1 R11 0–0 R17 R15 0–1 R14 0–1 1–0
Ecuador Flag of Ecuador.svg R14 3–1 R11 1–0 0–0 R12 5–1 R17 0–1
Paraguay Flag of Paraguay.svg R16 R15 2–0 R13 R18 5–1 1–0 1–0 2–0
Peru Flag of Peru.svg 1–1 R18 1–1 R11 1–1 R13 0–0 R15 1–0
Uruguay Flag of Uruguay.svg R18 5–0 R13 2–2 R16 0–0 R11 6–0 1–1
Venezuela Flag of Venezuela.svg 0–2 5–3 0–4 2–3 R12 3–1 R17 R16 R14

Recent results

Category Home Team Result Away Team Date Venue Scorers
World Cup qualifier Flag of Venezuela.svg Venezuela 3-1 Flag of Ecuador Ecuador Oct 15 2008 Estadio Olímpico Luis Ramos,
Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela
Ecuador: Mina 10'
Venezuela: Maldonado 48'; Moreno 56'; Arango 67'
World Cup qualifier Flag of Ecuador Ecuador 1-0 Flag of Chile.svg Chile Oct 12 2008 Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa,
Quito, Ecuador
Ecuador: Benitez 71'
World Cup qualifier Flag of Uruguay.svg Uruguay 0-0 Flag of Ecuador Ecuador Sep 10 2008 Estadio Centenario,
Montevideo, Uruguay
World Cup qualifier Flag of Ecuador Ecuador 3-1 Flag of Bolivia.svg Bolivia Sep 6 2008 Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa,
Quito, Ecuador
Ecuador: Caicedo 21'; Méndez 51' (pen); Benitez 72'
Bolivia: Botero 40'
Friendly Flag of Colombia.svg Colombia 0-1 Flag of Ecuador Ecuador Aug 20 2008 Giants Stadium,
East Rutherford, New Jersey
Ecuador: Benítez 38'
World Cup qualifier Flag of Ecuador Ecuador 0-0 Flag of Colombia.svg Colombia Jun 18 2008 Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa,
Quito, Ecuador
World Cup qualifier Flag of Argentina.svg Argentina 1-1 Flag of Ecuador Ecuador Jun 15 2008 Estadio Monumental,
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Ecuador: Urrutia 68'
Argentina: Palacio 90'+4'
Friendly Flag of France.svg France 2-0 Flag of Ecuador Ecuador May 27 2008 Stade des Alpes,
Grenoble, France
France: Gomis 60', 86'
Friendly Flag of Ecuador Ecuador 3-1 Flag of Haiti.svg Haiti Mar 26 2008 Estadio La Cocha,
Latacunga, Ecuador
Ecuador: Castillo 45'; Ayoví 59'; Tenorio 61'
Haiti: Charles 5'
World Cup qualifier Flag of Ecuador Ecuador 5-1 Flag of Peru.svg Peru Nov 21 2007 Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa,
Quito, Ecuador
Ecuador: Ayoví 10', 48'; Kaviedes 24'; Méndez 44', 62'
Peru: Mendoza 86'
World Cup qualifier Flag of Paraguay.svg Paraguay 5-1 Flag of Ecuador Ecuador Nov 17 2007 Estadio Defensores del Chaco,
Asunción, Paraguay
Ecuador: Kaviedes 80'
Paraguay: Valdez 8'; Riveros 26', 87'; Santa Cruz 50'; Ayala 82'

Current squad

The following players were called for the World Cup qualifying matches against Chile & Venezuela on October 12 & October 15, respectively (uniform numbers are based from the last game played). [1]

No. Pos. Player DoB (Age) Caps Goals Club
1 GK José Francisco Cevallos April 17, 1971 (1971-04-17) (age 38) 83 0 Flag of Ecuador LDU Quito
2 DF Carlos Castro September 24, 1978 (1978-09-24) (age 31) 7 0 Flag of Ecuador Barcelona
3 DF Iván Hurtado C August 16, 1974 (1974-08-16) (age 35) 155 5 Flag of Colombia Millonarios
4 DF Omar de Jesús February 29, 1976 (1976-02-29) (age 33) 17 0 Flag of Ecuador Barcelona
5 MF Patricio Urrutia October 15, 1978 (1978-10-15) (age 31) 25 3 Flag of Ecuador LDU Quito
6 DF Jorge Guagua September 28, 1981 (1981-09-28) (age 28) 28 2 Flag of Ecuador Barcelona
7 FW Joffre Guerrón April 28, 1985 (1985-04-28) (age 24) 11 0 Flag of Spain Getafe CF
8 MF Edison Méndez May 16, 1979 (1979-05-16) (age 30) 84 14 Flag of the Netherlands PSV Eindhoven
9 FW Félix Borja April 2, 1983 (1983-04-02) (age 26) 21 3 Flag of Germany FSV Mainz
10 FW Felipe Caicedo September 5, 1988 (1988-09-05) (age 21) 23 3 Flag of England Manchester City
11 FW Pablo Palacios February 5, 1982 (1982-02-05) (age 27) 5 0 Flag of Ecuador Barcelona
12 GK Marcelo Elizaga April 19, 1972 (1972-04-19) (age 37) 9 0 Flag of Ecuador Emelec
13 DF Isaac Mina October 17, 1980 (1980-10-17) (age 29) 6 1 Flag of Ecuador Deportivo Quito
14 MF Fernando Hidalgo May 20, 1985 (1985-05-20) (age 24) 3 0 Flag of Ecuador Barcelona
15 MF Walter Ayoví August 11, 1979 (1979-08-11) (age 30) 39 4 Flag of Ecuador El Nacional
16 MF José Luis Cortez November 21, 1979 (1979-11-21) (age 29) 8 0 Flag of Ecuador Deportivo Quito
17 DF Giovanny Espinoza April 12, 1977 (1977-04-12) (age 32) 83 3 Flag of Brazil Cruzeiro
18 MF Luís Bolaños March 3, 1985 (1985-03-03) (age 24) 9 0 Flag of Ecuador LDU Quito
GK Máximo Banguera December 16, 1985 (1985-12-16) (age 23) 1 0 Flag of Ecuador ESPOLI
DF Paúl Ambrosi October 14, 1980 (1980-10-14) (age 29) 33 0 Flag of Ecuador LDU Quito
MF Segundo Castillo May 15, 1982 (1982-05-15) (age 27) 38 2 Flag of England Everton F.C.
MF Luis Antonio Valencia August 4, 1985 (1985-08-04) (age 24) 36 4 Flag of England Wigan Athletic
FW Cristian Benítez May 1, 1986 (1986-05-01) (age 23) 26 9 Flag of Mexico Santos Laguna

Recent call-up

The following players have also been called up to the Ecuador squad.

Goalkeepers
Name Date of birth Club Caps (goals) Most Recent Call up
Edwin Villafuerte March 12 1979 Flag of Ecuador Olmedo 16 (0) v. Peru, November 21, 2007
Daniel Viteri December 12 1981 Flag of Ecuador LDU Quito  ? (?) v. Brazil, October 17, 2007
Rorys Aragon June 28 1982 Flag of Belgium Standard Liège 2 (0) v. Mexico, March, 2007
Defenders
Name Date of birth Club Caps (goals) Most Recent Call up
Gabriel Achilier March 24, 1985 Flag of Ecuador Deportivo Azogues 1(0) v. France, May 27, 2008
Erik de Jesús November 8, 1982 Flag of Ecuador El Nacional  ? (?) v. Haiti, March 26, 2008
Jairo Montaño July 9 1979 Flag of Ecuador Barcelona  ? (?) v. Peru, November 21, 2007
Jairo Campos August 9, 1984 Flag of Ecuador LDU Quito  ? (?) v. Paraguay, November 17, 2007
Óscar Bagüí February 10 1983 Flag of Ecuador Barcelona 9 (0) v. Paraguay, November 17, 2007
Strikers
Name Date of birth Club Caps (goals) Most Recent Call up
Luis Saritama October 20, 1983 Flag of Ecuador Deportivo Quito  ? (?) v. France, May 27, 2008
Iván Kaviedes November 24, 1977 Flag of Ecuador LDU Quito  ? (?) v. Peru, November 21, 2007
Ebelio Ordoñez November 3, 1972 Flag of Ecuador El Nacional  ? (?) v. Paraguay, November 17, 2007
Edmundo Zura January 12, 1983 Flag of Australia Newcastle United Jets  ? (?) v. Honduras, 12 September, 2007

Noted players

Previous squads

See also

Notes and references

External links