Netherlands 3-1 Ecuador: What’s your prediction?
Netherlands and Ecuador are both coming off 2-0 wins in their World Cup Group A games. The match at Khalifa International Stadium on Friday could decide who takes the top spot in the group.
Netherlands have been runners-up at three World Cups and are competing in their 11th finals. They finished top of their World Cup qualifying group and they are unbeaten in 16 games since their elimination at the last European Championship. Ecuador are playing in the fourth World cup and their previous best performance was in Germany in 2006. The two nations have only played each other twice, both in friendlies.
Netherlands are playing a 3-4-1-2 formation.
Ecuador's team is made up of Hernan Galindez, Felix Torres, Piero Hincapie, Pervis Estupinan, Michael Estrada, Angelo Preciado, Jackson Porozo, Gonzalo Plata, Moises Caicedo, Jhegson Mendez and Enner Valencia.
Netherlands are the current World Cup runners-up. They finished third in Brazil in 2014 and did not qualify for the last tournament in Russia. Qatar will be the 11th time the Dutch have competed at the World Cups.
The Dutch qualified for the World Cup. Louis van Gaal's team started the campaign with a draw in Norway and a 6-1 thrashing of the Turks. They could have made sure of top spot in Group G if they held on to a 2-0 lead away in Montenegro.
Netherlands are unbeaten under coach Van Gaal since their surprise elimination at the last European Championship by the Czech Republic. They finished top of their World Cup qualifying group and their Nations League group.
Ecuador has never qualified for a World Cup in the 20th century. They reached the last 16 in Germany in 2006, but were eliminated by England. Ecuador fell at the group stage in 2002 and 2014.
Ecuador came fourth in a tough group and qualified for the last automatic qualifying spot. They won seven games and scored 27 goals in the 18-match slog.
Netherlands beat Ecuador 3-1. Ecuador have beaten Nigeria and Cape Verde and drawn with Mexico, Saudi Arabia and Japan in friendlies since their berth in Qatar.
