World Cup Qualifiers

The thin Andean air wasn't the only thing playing a role in Ecuador's third-place finish with a game to spare in the competitive South American zone. Ecuador remained unbeaten at home in Quito.

Stars

Team captain and national cap-leader Ivan Hurtado (Al Arabi Cairo) and Ulises de la Cruz (Aston Villa) are Ecuador's two most famous, and dangerous, players.

Trainer

Hernan Dario Gomez left the team after a three-game, three-loss performance at the 2004 Copa America in Peru and was replaced by Columbia's Luis Fernando Suarez, who led the "Tricolor" in their successful bid for a ticket to Germany.

World Cup History

Slim pickings for Ecuador: In their only other finals appearance in 2002, they didn't get out fo the group stage.

Match Schedule: preliminary round

June 9: Poland - Ecuador in Gelsenkirchen

June 15: Ecuador - Costa Rica in Hamburg

June 20: Ecuador - Germany in Berlin

World Cup base

Ecuador will unpack their World Cup bags in the Bavarian town of Bad Kissingen.

Outlook

Attending their second World Cup in a row, Ecuador's strong finish in qualification has lifted their hopes of surviving the 2006 group stage.