Xinhua
24 Nov 2022, 21:35 GMT+10
DOHA, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- Ecuador head coach Gustavo Alfaro said on Thursday that his team will have nothing to lose against the Netherlands when the teams meet in World Cup Group A.
The Netherlands, who have been runners-up at three World Cups, are firm favorites going into Friday's match at Khalifa stadium in Doha and received a confidence boost with a 2-0 win over Senegal in their opening game on Monday.
But Ecuador will provide stern opposition, having also begun their campaign with a 2-0 victory in the tournament opener against hosts Qatar on Sunday.
"The match puts us in a place where we have everything to win and nothing to lose," Alfaro told a news conference. "Nobody knows what will happen. But I'm very confident based on what my team has shown."
One concern for Alfaro will be the fitness of Enner Valencia, who suffered an ankle injury after scoring both of Ecuador's goals against Qatar.
The 33-year-old Fenerbahce forward has been unable to train with the main squad and will be given until the last minute to prove his fitness.
"He's as tough as they come but we'll see how he is this afternoon," Alfaro said. "The exams show that he doesn't have a significant injury and if it's up to him he'll play like he always does when we need him. We hope that he responds well [to treatment] today and that he can play from the beginning."
Alfaro praised the work of his counterpart Louis van Gaal, who he credited for transforming the Netherlands' fortunes after replacing Frank de Boer as a manager in August last year.
"They are a well-organized team with a lot of individual talent - players that can decide a game on their own," he said. "When you play against a great time [like the Netherlands] you have to be switched on, both physically and mentally.
Get a daily dose of Europe Sun news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Europe Sun.
More InformationWASHINGTON, D.C.: President Donald Trump will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Monday. President...
GENEVA, Switzerland: A new United Nations report alleges that dozens of global corporations are profiting from and helping sustain...
LONDON, UK - Lawmakers in the United Kingdom have voted overwhelmingly to proscribe the direct-action group Palestine Action as a terrorist...
DHARAMSHALA, India: The Dalai Lama is set to address a significant three-day conference of Buddhist leaders this week, coinciding with...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: In a significant ruling last week, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a Texas law requiring age verification for users...
ISTANBUL/PARIS/BRUSSELS: As searing temperatures blanket much of Europe, wildfires are erupting and evacuation orders are being issued...
SAN FRANCISCO, California: Grammarly is doubling down on AI-powered productivity tools with the acquisition of Superhuman, a sleek...
NEW YORK, New York -U.S. stock markets closed with broad gains on Thursday, led by strong performances in U.S. tech stocks, while European...
LONDON/STOCKHOLM: The Persson family is ramping up its investment in the H&M fashion empire, fueling renewed speculation about a potential...
PARIS, France: L'Oréal is making a fresh play in the booming premium haircare segment with a new acquisition. The French beauty conglomerate...
MENLO PARK, California: Robinhood is giving European investors a new way to tap into America's most prominent tech names — without...
NEW YORK, New York - U.S. stocks diverged on Wednesday for the second day in a row. The Standard and Poor's 500 hit a new all-time...