Ecuador vs France live scores, odds, results, teams – Soccer, Football FIFA World Cup 2014

Ecuador are facing a mammoth task in defeating Les Bleus, one of the form teams at the tournament this year when they face them at Estadio Maracana later today. The Ecuadorian team are far from settled, with Enner and Antonio Valencia, Juan Carlos Paredes and Jefferson Montero all only one booking away from receiving a ban. Liverpool’s Mamadou Sakho, one of the stars of the French squad so far this year, has been sidelined with a  thigh injury and  is unlikely to put in an appearance this evening. Meanwhile, Paris Saint Germain’s Johan Cabaye will not play as he has amassed two yellows and will serve the resulting one match ban today.

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France are currently at the top of their game, and will not be easily knocked out of their imperious stride, which is in direct contrast  to their  tournament performance four years ago, where they looked more like the England of this year, finishing rather toothlessly, with no wins and rooted fixedly to the bottom of their group table. Currently in France, the newspapers are going wild, spurting rave headlines and articles  about how the French are back to winning ways  etc. however this is not  undeserved, after putting in some displays of beautiful, graceful, attacking football that would make any manager proud and any student of the game positively swoon.

Le Parisien roared “We love The Blues” across it’s front page, while L’Equipe opted for a simple, but very large “Vertiginous”, highlighting that France have risen to success out of nowhere. This from a sports  newspaper that not eight months gone asked the question “Is this the worst French national team in history?” From worst French national  team in history to fourth favourites at the tournament is indeed a vertiginous rise, given the timescale involved, and the French coach, the legendary Didier Deschamps, switching the side to 4-3-3 and instilling some confidence, belief and above all else, French flair into the squad has seen some extremely  positive results.

The French Football Federation’s president Noel le Graet has been quick to  stem the growing tide of belief among French supporters and players alike,  cautioning: “France can’t afford to be too arrogant and say that we are above this team or that  team. Our team is very young and hasn’t totally proved itself yet.” The Blues only need a draw against  Ecuador  to  see them through into the round of sixteen as well as win the group. Deschamps however is  quick  to  point out: “Who would think that Costa  Rica would  have six points, in the group they’re in? No-one. Other teams have been doing well here, not just us.”

France have been finding the net with increasing regularity, scoring for fun. So far they have banged in 39 goals in eleven games, including eight at this tournament, which is no mean feat given that scoring at a  World  Cup is counted among one of the hardest things to do for any international player. Ecuadorian  midfielder Christian Noboa echoed this sentiment, saying: “Scoring goals at a World Cup is very hard, so scoring eight of them gives you an idea of what France are about.”

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