Enner Valencia has scored Ecuador바카라™s last six World Cup goals so there바카라™s no understating how worried his country is after he was carried off the field on a stretcher against the Netherlands (More Football News)
Valencia has three goals in two games for Ecuador and is key to their chances of reaching the knockout stage.
Enner Valencia has scored Ecuador바카라™s last six World Cup goals so there바카라™s no understating how worried his country is after he was carried off the field on a stretcher against the Netherlands (More Football News)
Ecuador hopes that the 33-year-old striker바카라™s troublesome knees are OK for a decisive final group match against Senegal on Tuesday. He hurt his right knee against the Netherlands after spraining his left knee in the first game against Qatar.
He was up and walking a little while after that stretcher ride with an ice pack strapped to his right leg.
바카라śLet바카라™s hope,바카라ť Valencia said.
Ecuador바카라™s captain has three goals in two games in Qatar and is clearly key to its chances of reaching the knockout stage for only the second time. He scored three in three games in Ecuador바카라™s last World Cup appearance in 2014 but that wasn바카라™t enough to advance in Brazil.
La Tri have a slight advantage this time by needing a win or a draw to be certain of going through. Senegal has to win to be sure of advancing.
A victory by host Qatar over Netherlands would make other permutations possible in Group A but that result is seen as unlikely given the Qataris바카라™ struggles. They have already been eliminated.
A prolonged stay at the World Cup would put more strain on Valencia바카라™s knees and an ongoing ankle problem but there바카라™s no doubt he바카라™d take the pain for some World Cup joy after 10 years of service to the national team.
바카라śGood people like Enner deserve good things,바카라ť Ecuador coach Gustavo Alfaro said. 바카라śHe바카라™s worked hard for this.바카라ť
The young Ecuador team beat Qatar 2-0 in the tournament바카라™s opening game then stretched the favored Netherlands in 1-1 draw.
바카라śNo matter what happens in the next game, I바카라™ll never change my mind about these guys,바카라ť Alfaro said. 바카라śI바카라™m certain that a great future awaits them. They바카라™re fighting their first battles.바카라ť
While Ecuador holds out hope for Valencia바카라™s fitness, Senegal is already two games into life without its best player.
Sadio Mane바카라™s injury just two weeks before the World Cup forced the African champion to reconfigure its forward line and its entire game plan.
It was still a work in progress in an opening 2-0 loss to Netherlands but Senegal came closer to fully adjusting to Mane바카라™s absence when forwards Boulaye Dia, Famara Diedhiou and Bamba Dieng all scored in a 3-1 win over Qatar to revive Senegal바카라™s chances.
Senegal, ranked No. 18 in the world and fresh from winning the African Cup of Nations title in February, would normally be the clear favorite over the inexperienced No. 44 Ecuador, even with Valencia바카라™s extraordinary run of scoring in four of Ecuador바카라™s last five World Cup games.
It바카라™s never so simple at a World Cup and certainly not at this one after No. 3 Argentina lost to Saudi Arabia and No. 2 Belgium fell to Morocco.
바카라śJust look at how the World Cup is unfolding,바카라ť said Senegal coach Aliou Cisse. 바카라śI think anything can happen at this World Cup. It바카라™s not like 30 years ago when the big fish were completely eating the little fish alive.바카라ť