Burkina Faso
Czech Republic
Indonesia
Lithuania
Montenegro
Nigeria
North Macedonia

Ecuadorvs.Bolivia

sportsmole.co.uk, 10 June 2024, 22:33
Ecuador and Bolivia continue their preparations for the 2024 Copa America when they square off at Subaru Park in Pennsylvania on Thursday.

The two nations meet for the first time since October last year when Ecuador secured a 2-1 away victory in the 2026 CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers.

Match preview

Ecuador made a promising start to life under head coach Felix Sanchez - formerly of Qatar who was appointed in March 2023 - as they picked up three wins and two draws from their opening six matches in 2026 World Cup qualifying.

La Tri then experienced mixed fortunes earlier this year during March's international break, with a 2-0 friendly win over Guatemala followed by a 2-0 loss to Italy, and they have since begun their 2024 Copa America preparations with a slender 1-0 friendly defeat to holders Argentina.

Sanchez's side were unable to pose a threat in the final third and failed to register a single shot on target throughout the 90 minutes, with the match ultimately decided by Angel Di Maria's strike five minutes before half time.

Ranked 31st in the world by FIFA, Ecuador still have two more warm-up matches remaining to turn their fortunes around before preparing for their opening Copa America group-stage fixture against Venezuela on June 22, with Thursday's clash against Bolivia followed three days later by an encounter with Honduras.

Ecuador will be confident of success against Bolivia as they have won each of their last six meetings by an aggregate score of 14-4, scoring at least twice on five of those occasions.

Bolivia, meanwhile, last came out on top against Ecuador back in June 2016 when they claimed a 3-2 victory in the 2015 Copa America group stage, and they head into Thursday's contest following a mixed spell of form under new head coach Antonio Carlos Zago.

Appointed in October 2023, Zago has won two and lost three of his opening five matches in charge of La Verde, who followed up back-to-back defeats to Uruguay and Algeria with a narrow 1-0 friendly win over European minnows Andorra, before losing by the same scoreline against Mexico last weekend.

Similarly to Ecuador against Argentina, Bolivia lacked a cutting edge in the final third against Mexico, firing just one of their 10 shots on target, despite boasting nearly 60% possession, and an early second-half strike from Efrain Alvarez ultimately sealed the victory for El Tricolor in Illinois.

Ranked 85th in the world by FIFA, Bolivia will hope to find a winning formula across their final two warm-up matches against Ecuador and Colombia, facing the latter on Saturday, before they prepare for their opening Copa America group-stage game against host nation USA on June 23.

Ecuador form (all competitions):

D

D

W

W

L

L

Bolivia form (all competitions):

L

W

L

L

W

L

Team News

Seventeen-year-old Kendry Paez, who has agreed to join Chelsea in 2025, was handed his seventh international cap last weekend and is in contention to start again in the number 10 role on Thursday.

Ipswich Town loanee Jeremy Sarmiento operated as a false nine to begin with last time out, but he could be replaced be experienced striker Enner Valencia, who has scored 40 goals in 84 international appearances.

Veteran winger Angel Mena and midfielder Carlos Gruezo, who both have 57 caps, will be pushing to start after beginning as substitutes against Argentina and could replace Alan Minda and Joao Ortiz respectively.

As for Bolivia, Erwin Saavedra, Miguel Villarroel and Gustavo Mendoza have all pulled out of the first-team squad, while Moises Villarroel and Henry Vaca have withdrawn due to injury.

Santos attacker Miguel Terceros was the only player named in the starting lineup against Mexico who plays his club football outside of his homeland, and he is expected to continue in an advanced role in behind central striker Carmelo Algaranaz.

Ecuador possible starting lineup:

Dominguez; Preciado, Pacho, Torres, Hincapie; Caicedo, Gruezo; Mena, Paez, Franco; Valencia

Bolivia possible starting lineup:

Lampe; Rocha, Quinteros, Je. Sagredo, Jo. Segredo; Saucedo, Justiniano; Chavez, Terceros, R. Vaca; Algaranaz

We say: Ecuador 2-1 Bolivia

A closely-fought contest could be on the cards on Thursday between two evenly-matched nations, but Ecuador will be regarded as slight favourites and should have enough quality in the final third to outscore their opponents en route to a slender friendly victory.

Previews by email
Show more

Top News

18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal Women have been left with a mountain to climb in the Women's Champions League owing to a 2-0 loss to Real Madrid in the first leg of their quarter-final tie. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United midfielder Christian Eriksen has admitted he expects to leave Old Trafford at the end of the season. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Morgan Gibbs-White has revealed his reaction to receiving a late England call-up from Thomas Tuchel. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Jeremie Frimpong has fuelled speculation over a summer move to Liverpool by greeting Ryan Gravenberch in a scouse accent. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente has seen three players withdraw from his squad due to injury ahead of Thursday's UEFA Nations League quarter-final first-leg clash with Netherlands at De Kuip in Rotterdam. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman has named his 24-man squad ahead of Thursday's UEFA Nations League quarter-final first-leg clash with Spain at De Kuip in Rotterdam. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk UEFA Nations League holders Spain travel to De Kuip in Rotterdam to face the Netherlands in the first leg of their quarter-final tie on Thursday night. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Al Nassr are plotting a stunning move to sign Gabriel Magalhaes this summer, talkSPORT understands. 18 March 2025 talksport.com A trio of England under-21 players joined Thomas Tuchel's training session on Tuesday. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have confirmed that Cole Palmer has returned from the England squad to undergo further assessment on the injury he sustained before Sunday's 1-0 loss to Arsenal. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Continuing their quest for a first UEFA Nations League crown, Italy will welcome familiar foes Germany to San Siro on Thursday evening, as the pair play out the first leg of an enticing quarter-final tie. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal fans may have to wait until next season to see the best of Bukayo Saka ahead of his imminent return from hamstring surgery, Gunners expert Charles Watts believes. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Jean-Philippe Mateta injury was so severe his plastic surgeon refused to show him pictures of his ear. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Ultimately aiming to claim a first UEFA Nations League title, Germany will kick off their quarter-final clash with old foes Italy on Thursday. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Former Liverpool striker Emile Heskey has suggested that Darwin Nunez could still have a future at Anfield, but not as Arne Slot's starting number nine. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Armenia host neighbours Georgia in Yerevan on Thursday evening, as the two nations fight for the right to play in league B of the UEFA Nations League. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Liverpool are ready to consider offers for striker Darwin Nunez, talkSPORT understands. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Austria host Serbia on Thursday evening, looking to gain an advantage in their two-legged playoff for the right to play in Group A of the UEFA Nations League. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Seeking a place in the UEFA Nations League semi-finals, European heavyweights Italy and Germany will convene at San Siro on Thursday, for the first leg of their quarter-final tie. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Luka Modric has reportedly decided whether he intends to remain at Real Madrid past the end of the season. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Leicester player Hamza Choudhury was mobbed by fans after arriving for his first senior international call-up. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea winger Mykhaylo Mudryk is allegedly the subject of surprise interest from a Bundesliga club. 18 March 2025 talksport.com A brand-new competition will be taking place this summer, with some of the world's biggest clubs eyeing glory in the USA. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Ola Aina had a hilarious response to discovering he would be sharing a bed with Alex Iwobi on international duty. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Arsenal have added Carabao Cup winning Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimaraes to their list of summer transfer targets, talkSPORT understands. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Vying for a place in the UEFA Nations League's top tier, Scotland and Greece will meet for the first leg of their promotion/relegation playoff on Thursday. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Troy Deeney has reiterated his belief that Mohamed Salah is 'not world class' after his Wembley woes. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Papiss Cisse has been convinced to come out of retirement at the age of 39 by a former Newcastle teammate. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Two teams at opposite ends of Group C in the third round of AFC World Cup qualifiers will clash on Thursday as leaders Japan face Bahrain. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Danny Drinkwater was once given just an hour to leave Chelsea and led to a bust-up with the manager.