World Cup

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World Cup | Group Stage

Nov 25, 2022 at 4pm UK

Netherlands
1 - 1
Ecuador

Gakpo (6')

FT(HT: 1-0)

Valencia (49')
Mendez (57')

Netherlands vs. Ecuador: How do both squads compare ahead of World Cup clash?

By Joshua Ojele

Published: November 24 2022 | 16:11

Last updated: November 24 2022 | 17:01

Ahead of Friday's World Cup meeting between Netherlands and Ecuador, Sports Mole looks at how both squads compare, including their most valuable and top-scoring players.

Both seeking to make it two wins from two in Group A of the World Cup, Netherlands and Ecuador go head to head at the Khalifa International Stadium on Friday.

Gustavo Alfaro's men became the first nation to defeat the host nation in a World Cup opening game as they saw off Qatar 2-0 on Monday courtesy of a first-half brace from former West Ham United forward Enner Valencia.

Meanwhile, Netherlands had to dig deep to see off a resilient Senegal side in Monday's group opener as Cody Gakpo and Davy Klaassen netted in the closing stages of the game to sink the Lions of Teranga.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how the squads of Netherlands and Ecuador weigh up against each other ahead of Friday's matchup.

NETHERLANDS

Netherlands players pose for a team group photo before the match in September 2022 © Reuters

Most valuable player:
Matthijs de Ligt (£60.8m)

Overall squad value:
£510.1m

Most capped player:
Daley Blind (95)

Leading goalscorer:
Memphis Depay (42)

Total caps:
698

Total goals:
107

Oldest player:
Remko Pasveer (39)

Youngest player:
Xavi Simons (19)

Average age:
26.6

SQUAD IN FULL

Goalkeepers: Justin Bijlow (Feyenoord), Andries Noppert (Heerenveen), Remko Pasveer (Ajax)

Defenders: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), Nathan Ake (Manchester City), Daley Blind (Ajax), Jurrien Timber (Ajax), Denzel Dumfries (Inter Milan), Stefan de Vrij (Inter Milan), Matthijs de Ligt (Bayern Munich), Tyrell Malacia (Manchester United), Jeremie Frimpong (Bayer Leverkusen)

Midfielders: Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona), Steven Berghuis (Ajax), Davy Klaassen (Ajax), Teun Koopmeiners (Atalanta BC), Marten de Roon (Atalanta BC), Kenneth Taylor (Ajax), Xavi Simons (PSV Eindhoven)

Forwards: Cody Gakpo (PSV Eindhoven), Memphis Depay (Barcelona), Steven Bergwijn (Ajax), Vincent Janssen (Antwerp), Luuk de Jong (PSV Eindhoven), Noa Lang (Club Brugge), Wout Weghorst (Besiktas)

ECUADOR

Ecuador players huddle before the match on November 12, 2022 © Reuters

Most valuable player:
Moises Caicedo (£33.1m)

Overall squad value:
£127.5m

Most capped player:
Enner Valencia (74)

Leading goalscorer:
Enner Valencia (37)

Total caps:
643

Total goals:
76

Oldest player:
Hernan Galindez (35)

Youngest player:
Piero Hincapie (20)

Average age:
25.9

SQUAD IN FULL

Goalkeepers: Alexander Dominguez (Deportes Tolima), Hernan Galindez (Aucas), Moises Ramirez (Independiente)

Defenders: Robert Arboleda (Sao Paulo), Xavier Arreaga (Seattle Sounders), Pervis Estupinan (Brighton), Piero Hincapie (Bayer Leverkusen), William Pacho (Royal Antwerp), Diego Palacios (LAFC), Jackson Porozo (Troyes), Angelo Preciado (Genk), Felix Torres (Santos Laguna)

Midfielders: Moises Caicedo (Brighton), Jose Cifuentes (LAFC), Alan Franco (Talleres), Carlos Gruezo (Augsburg), Jhegson Mendez (LAFC), Ayrton Preciado (Santos Laguna), Jeremy Sarmiento (Brighton)

Forwards: Michael Estrada (Cruz Azul), Romario Ibarra (Pachuca), Angel Mena (Club Leon), Gonzalo Plata (Real Valladolid), Djorkaeff Reasco (Newell's Old Boys), Kevin Rodriguez (Imbabura SC), Enner Valencia (Fenerbahce)