Ecuador vs Guatemala Match Analysis and Prediction

Ecuador vs Guatemala Match Analysis & Prediction

Ecuador

22/03/2024 3:30 am

Guatemala

by Vincent

6 months ago 0 98

DISCLAIMER: All odds are quoted at time the prediction went live. Check the sports book for updated odds

Ecuador will take Guatemala in a friendly on Friday morning at the Red Bull Arena in New Jersey in preparation for the Copa America later this year.

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It will be the first match of 2024 for La Tri, who beat Chile 2-1 in a World Cup qualifier last November, while Guatemala lost their only game played this year, 1-0 to Iceland.

Months ahead of the Copa America, Ecuador are in solid form, going unbeaten in their final five World Cup qualifying matches of 2023.

That has them well positioned to make successive World Cup appearances for the first time since 2002 and 2006, currently sitting fifth in the table, with the top six teams securing an automatic berth in the 2026 finals.

Felix Sanchez Bas’ spell as manager began poorly, with the former Qatar boss losing a friendly against Australia 3-1, but things have since gone a lot smoother, with Ecuador suffering just one defeat in their last nine competitive matches (1-0 loss to Argentina).

La Tricolor did not concede a single goal in their final three matches played last year, all of which were CONMEBOL World Cup 2026 qualifying games.

Ecuador are unbeaten in their last seven matches against CONCACAF opponents since a 3-2 defeat to Mexico in 2019, conceding a goal or fewer in every game against that region since then.

Meanwhile, after an impressive opening to their 2023 CONCACAF Nations League campaign, picking up four points from their first two games, Guatemala have gone into a downward spiral.

Luis Fernando Tena’s side have lost three of their last four competitive matches and were knocked out of the Nations League, while failing to score in three successive matches across all competitions.

It has been over 15 years since Guatemala last defeated a side from the CONMEBOL region, beating Bolivia 3-0 in an August 2008 friendly.

Ecuador vs. Guatemala Head to head

These two teams have only previously met once, with Ecuador winning 2-0.

12/09/2018

Ecuador

2

Guatemala

0

Friendlies
22/03/2024

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A
22/03/2024

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A
22/03/2024

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A
22/03/2024

Ecuador

N/A

Guatemala

N/A

Friendlies

Ecuador Team News

Sanchez called up six uncapped players to the Ecuador squad for this friendly, including Allen Obando, Oscar Zambrano, John Yeboah, Alan Minda, Joel Ordonez and Javier Burrai.

Their record national team goalscorer, Enner Valencia, is the most experienced player chosen for this match with 83 caps, Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo is two away from 40 and Jose Cifuentes can hit 20 should he play on Friday.

Ecuador's Last 5 Matches

13/09/2023

Ecuador

2

Uruguay

1

CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifiers
13/10/2023

Bolivia

1

Ecuador

2

CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifiers
18/10/2023

Ecuador

0

Colombia

0

CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifiers
17/11/2023

Venezuela

0

Ecuador

0

CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifiers
22/11/2023

Ecuador

1

Chile

0

CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifiers

Guatemala Team News

Jonathan Franco is the only uncapped player selected for Guatemala here, while Elmer Cardoza made just his third international appearance against Iceland earlier this year, replacing Oscar Santis in the second half.

Alejandro Galindo can reach the half-century mark for caps should he feature here, Carlos Mejia is three away from that mark and Cristian Jimenez is one shy of reaching 20.