World Cup 2022 Qatar Vs Ecuador, Tips & Predictions

Hosts Qatar kick off the 2022 World Cup in the opening game against South Americans Ecuador at the Al Bayt Stadium. The match will take place on Sunday 20th November 2022, kicking off at 4pm (Irish time), 6pm local time.

Qatar are featuring in their first World Cup and both home fans and the rest of the world holds its breath to see what the hosts can offer on the pitch. A strong performance from the home team, and a good start, would bring much to this first World Cup hosted in the Middle East.

Ecuador, featuring in their fourth World Cup, took their place in Qatar courtesy of their fourth place finish in CONMEBOL qualifying, finishing with a respectable seven wins and five draws from their 18 games. And the current World Cup betting has Gustavo Alfaro’s men as firm favourites.

• This is the first time that these two teams will face each other in a competitive fixture.
• At the time of writing, Qatar are unbeaten in their last four games, securing three draws and a victory over Bulgaria
• At the time of writing, Ecuador have scored a solitary goal in each of five of their last six matches. The other game saw the team draw a blank in a 0-0 draw with Mexico. No wonder Boyelsports and others have goals at a premium here.
• Ecuador captain Enner Valencia has scored more goals (35) than the rest of the Ecuador squad put together. No wonder Bwin are backing the Ecuador skipper to register here.

Neither of these two teams are prolific goalscorers, although Ecuador did manage a respectable 27 goals in 18 matches in CONMEBOL qualifying. Gustavo Alfaro’s men have been struggling for goals since, however, managing only one against Cape Verde, for example. Qatar can be equally blunt in front of goal, and with opening games at World Cups notoriously cagey affairs, don’t expect many goals here.

UNDER 2.5 GOALS TO BE SCORED IN THE MATCH

Neither of these two teams are lethal in front of goal, as we have mentioned, but Ecuador do at least boast their record goalscorer in their ranks. Valencia has also started the season in prolific style for his club team Fenerbahce, and with goals in short supply for both teams, the Ecuador captain stands head and shoulders above all others as a major goal threat – he has more than the whole of the Ecuador squad combined.

ENNER VALENCIA TO SCORE ANYTIME

Brighton midfielder Moisés Caicedo has proven to be somewhat of a revelation in the Premier League since signing for the Seagulls last year. Yet the combative player does tend to get noticed by the referee, being booked no fewer than five times in CONMEBOL qualifying. In a tense affair, expect another booking here.

Moisés Caicedo to be booked at any time

Qatar

Hosts Qatar must be coming into the World Cup as one of the most unknown forces ever. Qualifying as hosts, the side are currently ranked 48 in the world by FIFA, but the fact remains that the team’s pedigree against top-class opposition is relatively untested outside of the Middle East and Asia. The side did win the Asia Cup in 2019 however, and a fervent home crowd will be expecting.

Key Player/s: There is no doubt that the star man for the hosts is El-Sadd’s Hassan Al-Haydos, the team captain and his country’s record appearance-maker. Qatar’s top scorer, however, is Al-Duhail’s Almoez Ali, who is also one to watch in this home World Cup
Team news: Coach Félix Sánchez has no major injuries to report.
Predicted Lineup: Barsham, Khoukhi, Correia, Salman, Hisham, Admed, Assadalla, Boudiaf, Waad, Ali, Afif

Ecuador

Ecuador have qualified for their fourth FIFA World Cup by finishing fourth in the CONMEBOL section. The team’s best result to date was reaching the Round of 16 in 2006. Gustavo Alfaro’s men with have high hopes of reaching at least the same stage this time round, and our prediction is that the team can match that performance in Qatar..

Key Player/s: Captain Enner Valencia is his country’s current icon, but keep an eye on Brighton midfielder Moisés Caicedo who is pulling up plenty of trees in the Premier League. He could well take control of the middle of the park here.
Team news: The Ecuadorians await news on the availability of defender Byron Castillo as an investigation continues over the right back’s eligibility.
Predicted Lineup: Galindez, Arboleda, Estupinan, Hincapie, Gruezo, Ibarra, Franco, Caicedo, Valencia, Plata

This is a difficult game to call, as the bookmaker’s betting odds testify to. These teams have never faced each other before, but the fact of the matter remains that this is the opening game of a World Cup. With the eyes of the world on the two sides, the pressure could not be greater. A cagey affair awaits, and neither team would be too disappointed with a draw.

Bet on the match to end in a draw