They have been key figures in helping Ecuador forge one of the stingiest defences in world football under tactically astute coach Sebastian Beccacece, who arrived six games into qualifying. They are on an 18-game unbeaten run (as of 04/06) and it is easy to see why they are many people's pick as dark horses as their compact block is so hard to break down.

Here is Ecuador's World Cup group stage opponents, which stadiums they will play at, and the times for the games.

Ecuador suffered the same fate as Mexico when playing against Venezuela, albeit under very different circumstances. Ecuador started the game on the front foot but the match was upended in the 22nd minute when Enner Valencia was sent off for catching a ...

AL KHOR, Qatar (AP) — The large swathes of empty seats in the second half summed up the Qatar soccer team's disappointing start to its first ever World Cup. The night started with more than 67,000 mostly Qatari fans filling the cavernous Al Bayt Stadium ...