Ecuador v Brazil - Preview
Tuesday, March 3rd, 2009Can Ecuador overcome Brazil?
La Tri will welcome world giants Brazil on March 29, 2009 in Quito when the qualification for South Africa 2010 resumes next month.
Following a bad run of four losses, three draws and only three wins in 10 games, the Ecuadorians find themselves seating in sixth place behind Chile and Uruguay, and just one point above Colombia.
Ecuador are yet to find their way to climb places in the table and subsequently qualify for the World Cup. Their last victory takes them back to October 12 last year, where a Christian Benitez goal proved enough for his side to seal an important 1-0 win at home to Chile. After a disappointing trip to Venezuela on October 15, 2008 where Isaac Mina’s 12th minute opener for Ecuador was cancelled out by three second half strikes from the host, the Ecuadorians will rather think of picking up from where they left off in their last match at home which ended in a victory against Chile.
However, playing against Brazil is certainly not a fixture that Ecuador would have loved to get at this time, particularly because Dunga’s Star Men seem to have recovered from their previous unconvincing performances.
Fresh from a spectacular 2-0 win over World Cup Champions Italy at the Emirates on February 10, preceded by a 6-2 trouncing victory over Portugal, Brazil look more than ever ready to play on March 29 in what is believed to be a relatively kind fixture for the CONMEBOL title holders who are expected by their fans to better their qualification matches results.
The fact that Ecuador beating Brazil in March is an intricate task stresses itself especially because of Brazil’s wish to bounce back from an unimpressive goalless draw at home to Colombia in their last qualifier.
And with an average of 3.2 goals scored per game and 22 good victories against the Ecuadorians in as many as 26 meetings, Brazil have an overwhelming historical edge over La Tri. And it goes without saying that Ecuador will inscribe one of South America’s biggest upset in football should they triumph in Quito later on March 29.
Despite being the underdogs, the Ecuadorians have everything to play for if they dream of reaching the World Cup finals in 2010 and continue their run of two consecutive World Cup appearances.
La Tri has a poor World Cup history and their first World Cup final only takes them back to 2002, comparing to Brazil who have never failed to reach any promise land. Defeat on March 29 for the Ecuadorians will almost mean goodbye for them… and unfortunately for the Ecuadorians, this is what the reality looks like.
Every country has its ups and downs though; perhaps will they get it just right to reach the finals in South Africa.
My prediction: Brazil will score at least 4 past Ecuador.
Written by: Angela Asante