Eight years after managing the Netherlands to the World Cup semifinals in Brazil, Louis van Gaal is back, and he’s hoping to bring home his nation’s first World Cup this time.
Van Gaal’s technical ability and leadership will be essential for a team that, under Frank de Boer’s predecessor, failed to advance past the group stage at the 2017 European Championship.
three-time runners-up in the World Cup The Netherlands are in Group A alongside Senegal, Ecuador, and the host nation Qatar.
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In his first news conference, he said Ecuador “has more of a future than it has of a present.”
“I want to be part of the process,” Alfaro said, “part of this growth and shape this dream that we have of playing the next World Cup.”
Ecuador will be there, the team’s fourth appearance since 2002 after missing out four years ago.
Ecuador will play in the opening match against host Qatar on Nov. 20 in Group A. Five days later, the team will face the Netherlands and then take on Senegal on Nov. 29.
Ecuador’s young and physical team was very effective in South American qualifying, even more so in the altitude of Quito – 2,850 meters (9,350 feet) above sea level. The team earned 18 of its 26 points while playing at home.
There won’t be any altitude to take advantage of in Qatar, however, but players like defender Piero Hincapié, winger Gonzalo Plata and striker Enner Valencia should be able to trouble opponents.
Ecuador’s physicality was key in its 2-0 win at Chile in November 2021, when Alfaro played a team with all but three players under the age of 23.
A pair of friendlies against Saudi Arabia and Japan in September has led to questions about the team’s ability to score. Valencia, the team’s main goal threat, failed to score in both matches.
Alfaro has already shown concerns about the team’s scoring form. His other options up front include Michael Estrada, Renato Ibarra, Ángel Mena and Djorkaeff Reasco. But they have also failed to score for the national team recently.
“We need to score again, that was part of our characteristic,” Alfaro said. “Scoring doesn’t depend on a winger. It depends on the whole team, from our capacity to assist, create opportunities.”
Ecuador will play in the World Cup following a long legal battle. Chile and Peru filed a complaint regarding the nationality of midfielder Byron Castillo.
Shortly after Ecuador secured its spot at the World Cup, the Chilean soccer federation claimed Castillo was actually Colombian and therefore ineligible.
