Saturday 21/06/2014, 00:00, World Cup Group E, Honduras vs Ecuador
Honduras vs Ecuador Betting Preview
Not many European fans will be too upset about the fact that the match between Honduras and Ecuador will be played at midnight. While the interest on the old continent for this fixture is minimal, for the fans of the teams involved, this is a game of great significance. It is the only match that both teams are entitled to feel like they can actually win, and this is exactly what they will be aiming for tonight.
Honduras vs Ecuador Betting Odds
At Bet365
Honduras 4.50, Draw 3.60, Ecuador 1.70
Honduras vs Ecuador Betting Tips
Ecuador should not be completely ruled out as a potential qualifier to the next stage, despite starting with the third chance behind France and Switzerland. Their defensive strategy help them secure just enough points on the road, while most victories were earned at the high altitude of their home stadium.
While the South Americans won't get to take advantage of this unique edge they've got over opponents during the qualifying campaign, they might not need it against Honduras. The 5-4-1 starting formation that coach Rueda is so fond of will probably turn into a 4-4-2, with Antonio Valencia elevated to striker. The Manchester United man usually plays in the midfield, but since there is no reason to fear Honduras, he is expected to join Caicedo.
On the other hand, Honduras won't have to change anything at a strategic level before this fixture, because the difference is minimal. Once again they start as underdogs and even though they have a better chance to collect all three points, they have few reasons to be overly confident. Four defenders, five midfielders and Bengtson spearheading the offensive is what coach Suarez has in mind for this game.
By playing offensive football against Ecuador, they might surprise their opponents who are under a lot of pressure in this particular fixture. While nobody expects them to win against France and a draw against Switzerland would be a satisfactory result, fans are counting on them to defeat Honduras.
Key Facts
- Ecuador is the team under pressure in this match and will be playing accordingly, trying to take the initiative in the first half and hopefully score an early goal.
- In four head to head games, Ecuador won twice both in Quito, but failed to win any of the two friendly games played on the road.
Honduras vs Ecuador Betting Odds Prediction
The odds are not great for an Ecuador victory and the fact that they need to win is not necessarily a rock-solid reason for backing them at full stakes. On the other hand, Honduras won just twice in the last 13 games and was lucky to qualify for World Cup 2014. Bet365 is the most generous bookmaker with odds of 1.70, a value that is just high enough to warrant a wager.
Bet: Ecuador @ 1.70 with Bet365
