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Agencies

Doha

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.”

Valencia became Ecuador’s record World Cup goalscorer with five goals, courtesy of a first-half double in a one-sided Group A opener against the hosts on Sunday.

The striker had an early goal contentiously disallowed by the VAR at Al Bayt Stadium before opening the scoring from the penalty spot after he was brought down by Qatar goalkeeper Saad Al Sheeb.

Ecuador’s leading all-time goalscorer found the back of the net again with a powerful header as La Tri dominated the game in Al Khor.

There was concern when Valencia sustained a knee injury late in the first half and although he was able to continue, the skipper was withdrawn 15 minutes from time.

Alfaro allayed concerns over the 33-year-old’s condition ahead of the clash with the Oranje at Khalifa International Stadium in Al Rayyan on Friday and praised the captain for silencing his critics.

“He is the all-time top scorer for Ecuador, he is going through tough times, he was questioned at times in Ecuador,” said Alfaro.

“He managed to score, which means a lot to him. Four or five players took a few blows, but nothing serious.

“Enner will play against the Netherlands, there is no doubt about that.”

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.

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25/11/2022
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