FIFA World Cup: Netherlands face Ecuador on November 25 in game that could decide Group A winner

Topics: TV Schedules, Netherlands, Ecuador, FIFA World Cup

The Dutch and the South Americans both won their opening games and could all but guarantee a first-spot finish with a victory on Friday.

The second round of fixtures in the 2022 FIFA World Cup group stage is upon us! While some teams enter this round fighting for survival, others look to secure their spot in the round of 16, as is the case with Friday's showdown between the Netherlands and Ecuador at 11 a.m. ET at the Khalifa International Stadium.

The Oranje went under the radar leading up to the tournament, with England, Spain, Germany, and France being the European giants tipped to compete for the title. However, that consensus is slowly changing after the Dutch national team's opening game.

Van Gaal's side kicked off their campaign against Senegal and while the champions of Africa were without talisman Sadio Mane, the Lions of Teranga were able to field a quality lineup nonetheless.

And despite this, the Netherlands emerged triumphant, beating Senegal 2-0 without even hitting full gear. Opposition goalkeeper Edouard Mendy had a hand in both goals, but regardless, the European giants showed that they should be feared.

That result saw Van Dijk and Co. stretch their brilliant unbeaten run to 16 games, with the Dutch last suffering defeat in their 2-0 slip-up against the Czech Republic in Euro 2020. While there were four draws in that 16-match run, Van Gaal's impressive defense, led by Liverpool's superstar center-back, have also impressed by registering a number of clean sheets.

The winner of this match will likely top the group, hence the importance. However, with the Netherlands' breakthrough against Senegal coming in the 84th minute, Gakpo and Co. will need to improve in front of the goal.

Ecuador, on the other hand, enjoyed a much-more comfortable victory in their opening game. The South American side kicked off their campaign against Qatar, meaning they were the first countries to take to the field. However, despite all eyes being on them and the home crowd being against them, La Tri weren't fazed.

The controversy surrounding Qatar meant there was scrutiny of the opening game. Regardless, Ecuador dismantled the hosts with ease, scoring three times inside half an hour, though one was ruled out for offside.

The two that counted were netted by Enner Valencia, with Gustavo Alfaro's entering game-management mode from the 31st minute onward. However, overcoming the Netherlands is a completely different task in comparison to dismantling Qatar.

The South Americans might play for the draw, which could make things difficult for Van Gaal's side. In their last seven matches in the World Cup qualifiers, even Brazil and Argentina struggled to beat La Tri.

However, winning the group could mean avoiding a difficult showdown with England, who are likely to top Group B, in the round of 16. This should all make for an interesting match of football. Don't miss this clash.

Team news

Netherlands: Memphis Depay, who was battling injury in the build-up to this tournament, came on in the final 30 minutes against Senegal and could start this game. If the Barcelona man starts, he will be joined by Cody Gakpo and Steven Bergwijn in the attack. Marten de Roon also had fitness concerns and might remain on the bench as a result.

Ecuador: Enner Valencia was forced off the pitch in the win over Qatar after taking a knock to the knee, but La Tri's all-time top scorer should be fit for this game. Jeremy Sarmiento will be pushing for a start but don't expect the South Americans to make many changes.

Key stats

No team has scored against the Netherlands in their last four FIFA World Cup matches.
Additionally, the Oranje have won 12 of their last 15 games in this tournament.
Not only are the European giants unbeaten in their last 16 games, but Van Gaal's team have also won four out of their last five outings.
Ecuador are unbeaten in their last six games in all competitions.
La Tri were also unbeaten in all but one of their last FIFA World Cup qualifiers.