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They're out of their hemisphere but are they out of their depth? believes Argentinian class will tell. |
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Team |
MP |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
Pts |
18 |
9 |
7 |
2 |
35 |
17 |
34 |
|
18 |
10 |
4 |
4 |
29 |
17 |
34 |
|
18 |
8 |
4 |
6 |
23 |
19 |
28 |
|
18 |
8 |
4 |
6 |
23 |
23 |
28 |
|
18 |
6 |
7 |
5 |
23 |
28 |
25 |
|
18 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
24 |
16 |
24 |
|
18 |
5 |
7 |
6 |
18 |
22 |
22 |
|
18 |
5 |
3 |
10 |
20 |
28 |
18 |
|
18 |
4 |
6 |
8 |
20 |
28 |
18 |
|
18 |
4 |
2 |
12 |
20 |
37 |
14 |
|
|
Date |
Teams |
Time/Score |
12-Oct-05 |
CHI:ECU |
|
08-Oct-05 |
ECU:URU |
|
03-Sep-05 |
BOL:ECU |
|
08-Jun-05 |
COL:ECU |
|
04-Jun-05 |
ECU:ARG |
|
30-Mar-05 |
PER:ECU |
|
27-Mar-05 |
ECU:PAR |
|
17-Nov-04 |
ECU:BRA |
|
14-Oct-04 |
VEN:ECU |
|
10-Oct-04 |
ECU:CHI |
|
05-Sep-04 |
URU:ECU |
|
05-Jun-04 |
ECU:BOL |
|
02-Jun-04 |
ECU:COL |
|
30-Mar-04 |
ARG:ECU |
|
19-Nov-03 |
ECU:PER |
|
15-Nov-03 |
PAR:ECU |
|
10-Sep-03 |
BRA:ECU |
06-Sep-03 |
ECU:VEN |
It’s Ecuador’s second World Cup in a row, yet also only the second on in their history. In 2002, their only win was against Croatia with defeats against Italy and Mexico.
2 |
09-Jun-06 |
|
|
|||
18 |
15-Jun-06 |
|
|
|||
33 |
20-Jun-06 |
|
|
FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking
Germany 22nd
Costa Rica 25th
Poland 26th
Ecuador38th
They have some decent players and the 2 nd round is a possibility. It’s also a fairly experienced squad with 9 of the selections remaining from 2002 and complimented with younger players such as Perlaza, Urrutia and Benitez.
Goalkeepers : Edwin Villafuerte (Deportivo Quito), Cristian Mora (Liga de Quito), Damian Lanza (Aucas)
Defenders: Ivan Hurtado (Al Arabi, Qatar), Geovanny Espinoza (Liga de Quito), Paul Ambrossi (Liga de Quito), Neicer Reasco (Liga de Quito), Ulises de la Cruz (Aston Villa, England), Jorge Guagua (El Nacional), Jose Luis Perlaza (Olmedo)
Midfielders: Marlon Ayovi (Deportivo Quito), Edwin Tenorio (Barcelona), Edison Mendez (Liga de Quito), Patricio Urrutia (Liga de Quito), Cristian Lara (El Nacional), Segundo Castillo (El Nacional), Antonio Valencia (Recreativo Huelva, Spain), Luis Saritama (Deportivo Quito)
Forwards: Felix Borja (El Nacional), Christian Benitez (El Nacional), Ivan Kaviedes (Argentinos Juniors, Argentina), Agustin Delgado (Liga de Quito), Carlos Tenorio (Al Sadd, Qatar)
Assistant coach: Armando Osma (Colombia)
Fitness coach: Oswaldo Garcia (Colombia).
Goalkeeping coach: Lorenzo Carrabs ( Uruguay)
H2H’s:
13-NOV-05 |
|
BARCELONA ( Spain) |
|
Ecuador vs. Poland |
0:3 (0:1) |
Friendly 2005 |
16-FEB-05 |
|
HEREDIA ( Costa Rica) |
|
Costa Rica vs. Ecuador |
1:2 (0:0) |
Friendly 2005 |
20-NOV-02 |
|
QUITO ( Ecuador) |
|
Ecuador vs. Costa Rica |
2:2 (0:2) |
Friendly 2002 |
16-OCT-02 |
|
SAN JOSE ( Costa Rica) |
|
Costa Rica vs. Ecuador |
1:1 |
Friendly 2002 |
28-JAN-99 |
|
SAN JOSE (CRC) ( Costa Rica) |
|
Costa Rica vs. Ecuador |
0:0 |
Friendly 1999 |
16-AUG-96 |
|
CUENCA ( Ecuador) |
|
Ecuador vs. Costa Rica |
1:1 (1:0) |
Friendly 1996 |
10-JUN-95 |
|
SEOUL ( Korea Republic) |
|
Ecuador vs. Costa Rica |
2:1 (1:0) |
Korea Cup 1995 |
27-MAY-92 |
|
SAN JOSE (CRC) ( Costa Rica) |
|
Costa Rica vs. Ecuador |
1:1 (0:0) |
Friendly 1992 |
19-JUN-88 |
|
SAN JOSE (CRC) ( Costa Rica) |
|
Costa Rica vs. Ecuador |
1:0 (0:0) |
Friendly 1988 |
Prediction: They are capable of a surprise or two and should play some tidy attacking football. However, their main weapon is playing at home in Quito. Without that advantage, thing will be a lot harder for them.
WC participations |
6 (1930, 1950, 1958, 1986, 1998, 2002) |
WC honours |
Last sixteen (1998, 2002) |
Continental Titles |
Copa America twice (1953, 1979) |
Date |
Teams |
Time/Score |
12-Oct-05 |
PAR:COL |
|
08-Oct-05 |
VEN:PAR |
|
03-Sep-05 |
PAR:ARG |
|
08-Jun-05 |
PAR:BOL |
|
05-Jun-05 |
BRA:PAR |
|
30-Mar-05 |
PAR:CHI |
|
27-Mar-05 |
ECU:PAR |
|
17-Nov-04 |
URU:PAR |
|
13-Oct-04 |
PAR:PER |
|
09-Oct-04 |
COL:PAR |
|
05-Sep-04 |
PAR:VEN |
|
06-Jun-04 |
ARG:PAR |
|
01-Jun-04 |
BOL:PAR |
|
31-Mar-04 |
PAR:BRA |
|
18-Nov-03 |
CHI:PAR |
|
15-Nov-03 |
PAR:ECU |
|
10-Sep-03 |
PAR:URU |
|
06-Sep-03 |
PER:PAR |
Match |
Date |
Venue |
Teams |
Time |
||
3 |
10-Jun-06 |
|
|
|||
20 |
15-Jun-06 |
|
|
|||
36 |
20-Jun-06 |
|
|
|||
FIFA/Cola Coca World Ranking
England 9th
Paraguay 33rd
Trinidad and Tobago 49th
Sweden 16th
Paraguay should not be under-estimated; they’ve performed very well in the last few years not only in qualifying but in the Copa America and Olympics. They do have some good players including (gk) Villar, Cardozo, Haedo Valdez and Roque Santa Cruz.
H2H’s:
17-APR-02 |
|
LIVERPOOL ( England) |
|
England vs. Paraguay |
4:0 (1:0) |
Friendly 2002 |
18-JUN-86 |
|
MEXICO CITY ( Mexico) |
|
England vs. Paraguay |
3:0 (1:0) |
1986 FIFA World Cup Mexico |
17-MAY-02 |
|
STOCKHOLM ( Sweden) |
|
Sweden vs. Paraguay |
1:2 (0:2) |
Friendly 2002 |
29-JUN-50 |
|
CURITIBA ( Brazil) |
|
Sweden vs. Paraguay |
2:2 (2:1) |
1950 FIFA World Cup Brazil |
22-MAR-89 |
|
ARIMA ( Trinidad and Tobago) |
|
Trinidad and Tobago vs. Paraguay |
1:1 (1:0) |
Friendly 1989 |
19-MAR-89 |
|
PORT OF SPAIN ( Trinidad and Tobago) |
|
Trinidad and Tobago vs. Paraguay |
2:2 (0:0) |
Friendly 1989 |
Prediction: They’ve taken points off Argentina and Brazil, so they are well capable of doing the same to their group opponents and reaching the 2 nd round for the third time in a row. They will certainly be under rated against England, where I can see them playing for a draw - they just might get it. There’s no question England have the greater quality but, if there’s still fitness concerns up front for them, Paraguay have the ability to slow the game down, keep the ball and hit any team on the counter. Yep, 2 nd round.
On to the big guns….
Date |
Teams |
Time/Score |
12-Oct-05 |
BRA:VEN |
|
09-Oct-05 |
BOL:BRA |
|
04-Sep-05 |
BRA:CHI |
|
08-Jun-05 |
ARG:BRA |
|
05-Jun-05 |
BRA:PAR |
|
30-Mar-05 |
URU:BRA |
|
27-Mar-05 |
BRA:PER |
|
17-Nov-04 |
ECU:BRA |
|
13-Oct-04 |
BRA:COL |
|
09-Oct-04 |
VEN:BRA |
|
05-Sep-04 |
BRA:BOL |
|
06-Jun-04 |
CHI:BRA |
|
02-Jun-04 |
BRA:ARG |
|
31-Mar-04 |
PAR:BRA |
|
19-Nov-03 |
BRA:URU |
|
16-Nov-03 |
PER:BRA |
|
10-Sep-03 |
BRA:ECU |
|
07-Sep-03 |
COL:BRA |
WC participations |
17 (1930, 1934, 1938, 1950, 1954, 1958, 1962, 1966, 1970, 1974, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002) |
WC honours |
5-time FIFA World Cup winners (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002), 2-time FIFA World Cup runners-up (1950, 1998), twice finished in 3rd place (1938, 1978) |
Everyone’s favourite second team arrive in Germany as worth favourites having finished 1 st in qualification and winning the Copa America and Confederations Cup. The five time champions will rarely be value but it’ll take some nerve to oppose them. They’ve changed their style and are now closer to the traditional samba style than they’ve been in years; although the racisms of them being ‘defensive’ were all relative. They’ve got ability all through the side from Cafu, Cicinho, Juninho and Emerson but it’s up front where everybody expects ‘em to shine: Robinho, Adriano, Ronaldinho, Kaka etc. Also, Ronaldo who should be in good shape after taking his usual 4 year break from actually trying in games.
11 |
13-Jun-06 |
|
|
|||
27 |
18-Jun-06 |
|
|
|||
43 |
22-Jun-06 |
|
|
Still, it’s not going to be that easy but qualification should be secured albeit with a blip along the way. Whether that comes from the improved Croatians, the Zico led Japan or Hiddinck’s Australia remains to be seen. However, there really is just Brazil in this group with the rest left to scrap over 2 nd spot.
A case for the defence? You’ll hear criticisms of them defensively from some; thankfully, Roque Junior is not in the squad. However, their reputation and ability is such that teams are afraid to exploit this – witness England playing against them after Brazil went down to 10 men. Teams are scared to push on against them due to their attacking threat and pace; lose the ball to Carlos or Cafu in a concentrated attack and you’re in trouble; or just play your usual scaredy-game against them. Hobson’s choice. Even so, expect Cris to provide a few dodgy moments.
H2H’s:
09-JUN-01 |
|
ULSAN ( Korea Republic) |
|
Australia vs. Brazil |
1:0 (0:0) |
FIFA Confederations Cup Korea/Japan 2001 |
21-DEC-97 |
|
RIYADH ( Saudi Arabia) |
|
Brazil vs. Australia |
6:0 (3:0) |
FIFA Confederations Cup Saudi Arabia 1997 |
14-DEC-97 |
|
RIYADH ( Saudi Arabia) |
|
Australia vs. Brazil |
0:0 |
FIFA Confederations Cup Saudi Arabia 1997 |
17-JUL-88 |
|
SYDNEY ( Australia) |
|
Australia vs. Brazil |
0:2 (0:0) |
Australia Bicentenary Gold Cup 1988 |
07-JUL-88 |
|
MELBOURNE ( Australia) |
|
Australia vs. Brazil |
0:1 (0:1) |
Australia Bicentenary Gold Cup 1988 |
Friendly 2005 |
17-AUG-05 |
|
SPLIT ( Croatia) |
|
Croatia vs. Brazil |
1:1 (1:1) |
22-JUN-05 |
|
COLOGNE ( Germany) |
|
Japan vs. Brazil |
2:2 (1:2) |
FIFA Confederations Cup Germany 2005 |
04-JUN-01 |
|
IBARAKI ( Japan) |
|
Brazil vs. Japan |
0:0 |
FIFA Confederations Cup Korea/Japan 2001 |
31-MAR-99 |
|
TOKYO ( Japan) |
|
Japan vs. Brazil |
0:2 (0:0) |
Friendly 1999 |
13-AUG-97 |
|
OSAKA ( Japan) |
|
Japan vs. Brazil |
0:3 (0:1) |
Friendly 1997 |
09-AUG-95 |
|
TOKYO ( Japan) |
|
Japan vs. Brazil |
1:5 (0:2) |
Friendly 1995 |
06-JUN-95 |
|
LIVERPOOL ( England) |
|
Brazil vs. Japan |
3:0 (1:0) |
UMBRO Cup 1995 |
23-JUL-89 |
|
RIO DE JANEIRO ( Brazil) |
|
Brazil vs. Japan |
1:0 (0:0) |
Friendly 1989 |
Goalkeepers: Dida (AC Milan), Julio Cesar (Inter Milan), Rogerio Ceni ( Sao Paulo)
Defenders: Cafu (AC Milan), Cicinho (Real Madrid), Lucio (Bayern Munich), Juan (Bayer Leverkusen), Roberto Carlos (Real Madrid), Gilberto (Hertha Berlin), Cris (Olympique Lyon), Luisao (Benfica)
Midfielders: Edmilson (Barcelona), Juninho Pernambucano (Olympique Lyon), Emerson (Juventus), Ze Roberto (Bayern Munich), Gilberto Silva (Arsenal), Kaka (AC Milan), Ricardinho (Corinthians)
Forwards: Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Robinho (Real Madrid), Ronaldinho ( Barcelona), Adriano (Inter Milan), Fred (Olympique Lyon).
Looks pretty good, doesn’t it?
WC participations |
13 (1930, 1934, 1958, 1962, 1966, 1974, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002) |
WC honours |
2-time FIFA World Cup winners (1978, 1986), 2-time FIFA World Cup runners-up (1930, 1990). |
Continental Titles |
Copa America 14 times (1921, 1925, 1927, 1927, 1937, 1941, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1955, 1957, 1959, 1991, 1993), Pan American Cup 6 times (1951, 1955, 1959, 1971, 1995, 2003) |
12-Oct-05 |
URU:ARG |
|
09-Oct-05 |
ARG:PER |
|
03-Sep-05 |
PAR:ARG |
|
08-Jun-05 |
ARG:BRA |
|
04-Jun-05 |
ECU:ARG |
|
30-Mar-05 |
ARG:COL |
|
26-Mar-05 |
BOL:ARG |
|
17-Nov-04 |
ARG:VEN |
|
13-Oct-04 |
CHI:ARG |
|
09-Oct-04 |
ARG:URU |
|
04-Sep-04 |
PER:ARG |
|
06-Jun-04 |
ARG:PAR |
|
02-Jun-04 |
BRA:ARG |
|
30-Mar-04 |
ARG:ECU |
|
19-Nov-03 |
COL:ARG |
|
15-Nov-03 |
ARG:BOL |
|
09-Sep-03 |
VEN:ARG |
|
06-Sep-03 |
ARG:CHI |
A very disappointing 2002 can more than be made up for now; after a comfortable enough qualification, Argentina have everything needed to be champions. OK, there’s no Maradona, but this team are far superior to the ones the little fella carried on his own. The squad is as well balanced as any in the tournament (would’ve preferred Zanetti and D. Milito to be in it though) with strength in depth everywhere.
Gk Roberto Abbondanzieri (Boca Juniors, Argentina)
Gk Leonardo Franco ( Atletico Madrid, Spain)
Gk Oscar Ustari ( Independiente, Argentina)
D Roberto Ayala ( Valencia, Spain)
D Nicolas Burdisso (Inter Milan, Italy)
D Fabricio Coloccini (Deportivo La Coruna, Spain)
D Leandro Cufre (AS Roma, Italy)
D Gabriel Heinze ( Manchester United, England)
D Gabriel Milito (Real Saragossa, Spain)
D Lionel Scaloni (West Ham United, England)
D Juan Pablo Sorin ( Villarreal, Spain)
M Pablo Aimar ( Valencia, Spain)
M Esteban Cambiasso (Inter Milan, Italy)
M Luis Gonzalez ( Porto, Portugal)
M Javier Mascherano (Corinthians, Brazil)
M Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona, Spain)
M Juan Roman Riquelme ( Villarreal, Spain)
M Maximiliano Rodriguez ( Atletico Madrid, Spain)
F Hernan Crespo ( Chelsea, England)
F Julio Cruz (Inter Milan, Italy)
F Rodrigo Palacio (Boca Juniors, Argentina)
F Javier Saviola ( Sevilla, Spain)
F Carlos Tevez (Corinthians, Brazil)
Experience comes from Ayala, Sorin, Crespo and Aimar and it’s complimented by newer stars such a Mascherano, Tevez, Messi and Riquelme. While they may not have the best player in the world anymore, they’ve got a few in the top 50.
Weaknesses? Could be caught out with high balls as they aren’t a very tall side and their manager (the aptly-named Pekerman) does have the annoying propensity to cock things up.
Brazil coach, Parreira – “If we look at value, I think our number one rivals are Argentina for the World Cup.”
First thing first, it’s not any easy group stage with the always dangerous (but potentially implosive) Dutch and the Serbo-Montenegrins, who qualified impressively and look to be tremendous strong in defence (lost just a single goal in 10 games.)
FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking
Argentina 4th
Côte d'Ivoire 32nd
Serbia and Montenegro 46th
Netherlands 3rd
12-FEB-03 |
|
AMSTERDAM ( Netherlands) |
|
Netherlands vs. Argentina |
1:0 (0:0) |
Friendly 2003 |
31-MAR-99 |
|
AMSTERDAM ( Netherlands) |
|
Netherlands vs. Argentina |
1:1 (0:0) |
Friendly 1999 |
04-JUL-98 |
|
MARSEILLES ( France) |
|
Netherlands vs. Argentina |
2:1 (1:1) |
1998 FIFA World Cup France |
25-JUN-78 |
|
BUENOS AIRES ( Argentina) |
|
Argentina vs. Netherlands |
3:1 a.e.t (1:1, 1:0) |
1978 FIFA World Cup Argentina |
26-JUN-74 |
|
GELSENKIRCHEN (FRG) |
|
Netherlands vs. Argentina |
4:0 (2:0) |
1974 FIFA World Cup Germany |
24-FEB-98 |
|
MAR DEL PLATA ( Argentina) |
|
Argentina vs. Yugoslavia |
3:1 (1:0) |
Friendly 1998 |
28-DEC-96 |
|
MAR DEL PLATA ( Argentina) |
|
Argentina vs. Yugoslavia |
2:3 (1:1) |
Friendly 1996 |
27-DEC-94 |
|
BUENOS AIRES ( Argentina) |
|
Argentina vs. Yugoslavia |
1:0 (1:0) |
Friendly 1994 |
30-JUN-90 |
|
FLORENCE ( Italy) |
|
Yugoslavia vs. Argentina |
0:0 a.e.t (0:0) 2:3 PSO |
1990 FIFA World Cup Italy |
16-OCT-92 |
|
RIYADH ( Saudi Arabia) |
|
Argentina vs. Côte d'Ivoire |
4:0 (2:0) |
Intercontinental Champions Cup Saudi Arabia 1992 |
Prediction: Winners. (Picking Brazil is too obvious.)
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