#BRAZILFEVER MATCHDAY 4 SWITZERLAND vs ECUADOR VENUE: Estadio Nacional, Brasilia KICK-OFF: *16:00* REFEREE: Ravshan Irmatov, Uzbekistan This fixture kicks start the games in Grp E in the first ever international meeting between Switzerland and Ecuador. TEAM NEWS SWITZERLAND Coach: Ottmar Hitzfield The Nati beat Spain in the opening fixture four years ago and will have to be on their mettle against their unfancied South American opponents in Brasilia today. Switzerland started the 2010 World Cup with a surprise win over Spain and they will be looking to get this tournament off to a similar start. The coach, Ottmar Hitzfeld doesn’t have any noteworthy injury problems ahead of the match versus Ecuador and has a fit squad to pick his starting XI from. His main selection headache will be who to pick alongside centre-back Steve von Bergen, with Philippe Senderos, Fabian Schar and Johan Djourou all hoping to get the nod. Schar featured in the friendly against Peru, but Hitzelfd might turn to the more experienced Senderos. Gokhan Inler and Valon Behrami are set to start in midfield, meaning Napoli midfielder Bleri Dzemaili will av to settle fr a plc on the bench. Josip Drmic, who recently signed fr Bayer Lev erkusen is expected to lead the lines today. Possible Line-up (4-2-3-1): Benaglio, Stocker, Von Bergen, Schar, Shagiri; Behrami, Inler; Rodriguez, Von Bergen, Scar; Drmic. ECUADOR Coach: Reinaldo Rueda Ecuador lost the services of their experienced midfielder Segundo Castillo(32) due to injury. To make matters even worse, Christian Noboa is in danger of missing the match versus Switzerland as well after picking up a knock in the friendly against England, although Rueda remains hopeful the midfielder will make it in time. Ecuador’s injury worries in midfield mean that either Edison Mendez, who scored the winner in his country’s first-ever World Cup win in 2002, or promising youngster Carlos Gruez will start against the Swiss. Antonio Valencia and Jefferson Montero are expected to start on the wings in Ecuador’s 4-4-2 formation, with Enner Valencia likely to partner star striker Felipe Caicedo. Possible Line-up (4-4-2): Dominguez; Paredes, Guagua, Erazo, Ayovi; A Valencia, Noboa, Gruezo, Mentero; Caicedo, E Valencia. MATCH STATS 1. This will be the first ever international meeting between Switzerland and Ecuador. 2. Switzerland have only conceded one goal in their last seven World Cup games combined.Hitzfeld’s side were unbeaten in World Cup qualification, winning seven and drawing three of their 10 qualifiers. 3. Ecuador have never drawn a game at a World Cup, winning three and losing four so far. 4. Indeed, la Tri have won all three games in which they have kept a clean sheet in the competition, but lost all four they have conceded in. 5. Felipe Caicedo scored seven goals in nine games in qualification, including one run of scoring in four in a row. 6. La Nati have lost their last four World Cup meetings with South American sides, failing to score in their last three. 7. Despite finishing fourth, Ecuador had more shots than any other team in South American qualification (201). Rueda’s side also made the most crosses in CONMEBOL qualification (396). 8. Ecuador have never drawn a game at a World Cup, winning three and losing four so far. 9. Indeed, la Tri have won all three games in which they have kept a clean sheet in the competition, but lost all four they have conceded in. Pharm Nana Kwesi EmperorT-Bag Reporting from Brasilia
Posted on: Sun, 15 Jun 2014 10:48:14 +0000
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