June 7 - Poland play Ecuador in the second game of
the World Cup finals on Friday.
Where: Arena Auf Schalke, Gelsenkirchen
Capacity: 52 500
When: Friday June 9, 9pm SA time
Referee: Toru Kamikawa (Japan)
Teams: Likely formation; shirt numbers; name, caps, goals:
Poland:
1-Artur Boruc (17-0); 6-Jacek Bak (72-2), 2-Mariusz Jop
(12-0), 14-Michal Zewlakow (56-1), 4-Marcin Baszczynski (32-1); 8-Jacek Krzynowek (58-9), 16-Arkadiusz Radomski (20-0),
10-Miroslaw Szymkowiak (28-3), 7-Radoslaw Sobolewski (19-1), 15-Euzebiusz Smolarek (14-4); 9-Maciej Zurawski (50-15).
Coach: Pawel Janas
Ecuador:
12-Cristian Mora (8-0); 4-Ulises de la Cruz (84-5), 3-Ivan Hurtado (130-5), 17-Giovanny Espinoza (56-2),
18-Neicer Reasco (31-0); 8-Edison Mendez (64-10), 20-Edwin
Tenorio (68-0), 14-Segundo Castillo (11-1), 16-Luis Antonio
Valencia (17-3); 11-Agustin Delgado (68-29), 21-Carlos Tenorio
(29-5) or 10-Ivan Kaviedes (44-13)
Coach: Luis Fernandez Suarez
Team News:
Suspended: none
Injured: Poland's Jacek Bak and Jacek Krzynowek are expected
to recover from minor injury and illness worries in time to
start. Ecuador have no serious injury concerns.
Doubtful: Ecuador's Carlos Tenorio is nursing a calf-muscle
injury but is fit enough to be considered for a starting role.
General:
Edwin Villafuerte's faltering performance in Ecuador's 2-1
warm-up defeat by Macedonia could mean Cristian Mora is
preferred in goal.
Striker Ivan Kaviedes could come in for Tenorio who injured
a calf muscle in that match, although Tenorio is now fit again.
Poland coach Janas's new defensive formation ground out a
1-0 win over Croatia on Saturday, giving the Poles a welcome
boost just before a group opener they see as crucial to their
progress.
Ecuador need to pick up after losing to Netherlands, Japan
and the former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia and drawing 1-1
with Colombia in friendlies since qualifying.
Coach Suarez nevertheless believes they have progressed
since their World Cup debut four years ago when losses to Italy
and Mexico saw them eliminated after their first two matches.
Key quotes:
Polish defender Jacek Bak: "We need to approach this match
from a different perspective to four years ago. Of course, we've got three games in this group, but the first is very important, maybe the most important."
"Ecuador look like a very solid side. They are technically
excellent. But I believe we will win this game and that we will
get out of the group."
Ecuador coach Luis Fernando Suarez: "We came to show our
growth. We are more experienced and we have to prove that to
everyone. Poland are physically strong, very fast and dangerous
from crosses."
Key stats:
Poland right back Marcin Baszczynski celebrated his 29th
birthday on Wednesday.
Poland and Ecuador met in a friendly in Barcelona last
November, just two weeks before the draw put them together in
Group A. Poland won 3-0 in the only match between the teams.
