Preview: Australia vs. Ecuador - prediction, team news, lineups

The Socceroos ran out 3-1 winners at the CommBank Stadium on Friday, as both teams look to build towards the future.

Match preview

Having surprised many neutrals and fans alike by reaching the last-16 of the recent World Cup in Qatar, there is renewed optimism within Australia regarding their football team.

Graham Arnold, who was named the best coach at the 2022 World Cup by French sports newspaper L'Equipe, has renewed his contract until 2026, calling on Australian officials to do more to promote football across the country.

His side's 3-1 victory over Ecuador, who produced some excellent football at the World Cup themselves despite falling short in their final group game against Senegal, will have done Arnold's longer-term aims no harm whatsoever.

Jackson Irvine opened the scoring after only 12 minutes before Felix Torres equalised 11 minutes later, with strikes from Awer Mabil and Garang Kuol handing Australia an impressive win in Parramatta. They will be hoping to complete the double-header in Melbourne four days later.

However, Ecuador will be determined to bounce back at Marvel Stadium, having dominated the first friendly match with a 64% share of possession.

The Ecuadorian Football Federation made the decision not to renew Gustavo Alfaro's contract as head coach, instead turning to former Qatar boss Felix Sanchez, despite the Spaniard overseeing a 3-0 defeat to Ecuador on home territory at the recent World Cup.

The 3-1 defeat to Australia on Friday was not how the 47-year-old would have hoped and envisaged his first game ending, then, but the former Barcelona youth coach will be determined to ensure that his players' heads do not drop at this extremely early stage of his tenure.

Scoring first against a defensively organised team could prove crucial in the second fixture on Tuesday, with the absence of captain Enner Valencia through injury a notable blow to his side's hopes of doing so.

Australia friendly form:

W

Australia form (all competitions):

W

L

W

W

L

W

Ecuador friendly form:

L

Ecuador form (all competitions):

D

D

W

D

L

L

Team News

Arnold may reward Egyptian-born Kuol, who only turned 18-years-old last September, with a start on the left flank after scoring from the bench in the 3-1 win on Friday.

That could mean Craig Goodwin makes way for the youngster, with the likes of Nathaniel Atkinson, Bailey Wright and Riley McGree all hoping to receive some minutes after being unused substitutes last time out.

Ecuador, meanwhile, may ask a similar starting XI to go out and prove their defeat was an unwarranted one, although Brighton & Hove Albion stars Pervis Estupinan and Moises Caicedo are unlikely to play 90 minutes again.

Kevin Rodriguez and Alexander Alvarado will be hoping to add to their four caps apiece after coming off the bench last time out, but they may have to be patient once again given Sanchez's desire to taste victory for the first time in his new role.

Australia possible starting lineup:

Ryan; Atkinson, Souttar, Rowles, Behich; Mabil, Baccus, O'Neill, Irvine, Guol; Duke

Ecuador possible starting lineup:

Ramirez; Preciado, Torres, Hincapie, Estupinan; Mendez, Caicedo, Cifuentes; Mena, Estrada, Sarmiento

We say: Australia 1-2 Ecuador

Ecuador are likely to be the more motivated team after losing the first match on Friday, and we can envisage them bouncing back with a victory as a result.

Australia rode their luck at times during the initial encounter, with Sanchez hoping to turn his team's dominant possession into a higher amount of clear cut chances.

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