Two of the top three teams in the South America group of World Cup qualifying are set to clash at the Estadio Olimpico Atahualpa in Quito, Ecuador. While Argentina currently paces the group with 25 points through 12 matches, Ecuador is only 5 points behind and with a victory over the two-time World Cup champion, Ecuador would only find themselves two points from the top spot.
In addition to trailing Argentina, Ecuador is also tied with Colombia in the standings, so any points in the upcoming match against perennial power Argentina will go a long way in helping the team solidify a berth at next summer's World Cup.
When and Where to Watch World Cup Qualifier
As World Cup qualifying continues, Argentina and Ecuador will meet in Ecuador on Tuesday, June 11. The match will begin at 5:00 p.m., EDT with television coverage provided by beIn Sport.
For those wishing to watch the game on-line, a live stream will be available by following this link.
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Argentina vs. Ecuador Preview
Argentina and Ecuador were expected to be competitive throughout World Cup qualifying and as they currently pace the South America group along with Colombia, the two clubs are poised to continue their strong qualification run. Argentina won't drop out of the group's top spot with a loss or draw Tuesday night but a win will certainly give them a big cushion moving forward. Ecuador on the other hand could use the three points earned through victory as they hope to catch Argentina and move away from Colombia, a team they're currently knotted up with since each team has 20 points through 11 matches played. Colombia battles Peru Tuesday night.
Although they've been magnificent thus far in the qualifying stages -- earning 7 victories and 4 draws in 12 matches -- Argentina may once again be without the best player in the world. Lionel Messi hasn't taken the field for a national team match in over a month as he continues to battle a sore hamstring. Without their star forward on the field in their last qualifying match against Colombia, Argentina struggled offensively, playing to a 0-0 draw against a team they probably should have defeated. Not yet knowing if he'll be able to go Tuesday night, Messi knows his team will be prepared regardless of his status.
"I don't know if I'll play against Ecuador," Messi told ESPN reporters. "It was a long time with no footballing activity and playing at high altitude is very demanding. Anyway, even if I don't play, Argentina will go out for the victory as always."
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While Argentina may be forced to play sans Messi, Ecuador will look to continue their success in Quito and against Argentina. Winning all six of their home qualifying matches, the Ecuadorian national team has also upended the Argentines in three of their last four meetings at the Estadio Olimpico Atahualpa. The key player for Ecuador is usually star striker Christian Benitez but as they look to slow down a normally solid Argentina offense, centre back Jorge Guagua may prove to be the most valuable player on the field Tuesday night.
Dynamic scorers Gonzalo Higuain and Sergio Aguero have combined to score 12 goals in the qualifying stages and even without Lionel Messi (8 goals), Argentina is still capable of lighting up the scoreboard. The play of Guagua and the entire Ecuador defense will either help or hurt the team's chances against the talented Argentine national team.
Leading the group with 25 points, Argentina does have some room for error but if they're able to win Tuesday night, the Argentines could wrap up the group IF Peru and Uruguay drop their upcoming matches.
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Argentina vs. Ecuador Wrap-Up
With plenty on the line concerning the 2014 Brazil games, Argentina and Ecuador are set to meet Tuesday night in a South American group showdown. The action begins at 5:00 p.m., EDT with television coverage provided by the beIn Sport network.
An online live stream will also be available by following this link.
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