After Groups A and B have finalized their action in the 2016 Copa América Centenario, it has been set in stone that the USMNT will have to face Ecuador for a berth in the tournament’s semifinals. Even though Jürgen Klinsmann’s team already faced two tough teams in Colombia and Paraguay, Ecuador might be the toughest opponent considering their recent form.
Here are five things to know about the upcoming USMNT opponent in the Copa América:
Tactical system: 4-4-2
Manager Gustavo Quinteros is pretty old-school when it comes to his tactics, and he moves between a 4-4-2 and a 4-2-3-1, although the latter is rarely used. Quinteros’ playing style is quite simple: the central midfielders are defensive-minded and try to disrupt the opposition’s play in midfield, the fullbacks tend to overlap with the wingers, and the attacker try to beat the defensive line based on their pace and quickness on and off the ball.
Who’s their best player?
Their best player is no other than Luis Antonio Valencia, a right back for Manchester United who plays as a winger for La Tri. Valencia scored one of Ecuador’s four goals against Haiti in the last group stage game for Ecuador, and he has pace to burn so his presence is likely to pose a big threat for the US, especially considering that the left back position is one of the weakest in the USMNT. Limiting Valencia’s involvement in the game would be key if the USMNT wants to have any shot at advancing to the semifinals.
How can they attack the USMNT?
The best way Ecuador can attack the USMNT is through the pace of its wingers. Jefferson Montero is a threat on the open field, a dynamic player who’s likely to be an imposing matchup against whoever Jurgen Klinsmann decides to play on the right side of the defense, while Fabian Johnson will have to be at his best if he wants to have any chance to stop Valencia. The pace of the attackers – Bolaños and Enner Valencia – can’t be forgotten either, as both players should complicate Geoff Cameron and John Brooks a lot due to their quickness and ability to find spaces in the final third.
How can the USMNT attack them effectively?
The USMNT needs to overlap the midfield if they want to be successful against Ecuador. Carlos Gruezo and Christian Noboa are Ecuador’s two central midfielders, but they don’t have a lot of help defensively so if the USMNT decides to crowd the middle of the pitch with Alejandro Bedoya, Jermaine Jones and Michael Bradley, they might be able to open spaces in the final third.
History between both sides
https://youtu.be/ACGORFKKjD8
The Americans have won just three of their 13 meetings against Ecuador, and even though they won the last game (1-0 in May 25 during a pre-Copa friendly), their prior victory came also 10 years ago in 2007. The only official match between both teams came during the 1993 Copa America on Ecuadorian soil where the hosts ended winning comfortably by a 2-0 score. Can the US repeat that score this weekend?
The game will be played at CenturyLink Field in Seattle, WA, on June 16th.