Ecuador will take on Venezuela in their Group B opener, as both teams will be angling for a good start to their tournament.
Felix Sanchez knows he has a good enough squad at his disposal that is capable of progressing through Group B and making it to the knockout phases for a second tournament in a row. However, the Ecuador manager will not make the mistake of underestimating the other teams, including Venezuela, as this group does pose a challenging quest as the tournament progresses.
Jamaica and Mexico will feel they, too, have a chance of progressing. However, with the two teams playing their opening group game against each other, Ecuador will want a positive start to their campaign. Ideally, a win over Venezuela would set them up nicely before taking on the other two Group B hopefuls. But three points tomorrow will put them in good stead and apply the pressure on their rivals.
Ecuador head into this clash against Venezuela in good form owing to wins over Bolivia and Honduras in their warm-up games. However, they did manage a narrow defeat against Argentina in one of their other pre-tournament friendlies. Sanchez will not fret about that result and will want his team to play at their maximum levels in the opener.
Some might see Venezuela as a weak link in this Group B encounter. But Fernando Batista’s side may be able to spring a surprise. Their recent history in Copa America is also good enough, as opposed to why some might think they are the pushovers in this group.
The only drawback for Venezuela is the fact that they have not been in action since the international round in March, although that should not be a reason for having a disadvantage. Either way, they will want to better their performance from the 2021 edition, where they were eliminated after failing to win even a single game in the group stages.
Team News & Tactics
Ecuador
Felix Sanchez will have a good enough set of players to choose from, with many of his starters boasting valuable experience playing with top European clubs. Moises Caicedo is the most notable and well-known name in this setup, with the Chelsea star hoping to have a stellar tournament for Ecuador.
His former Brighton teammate, Pervis Estupinan, is a big miss for Ecuador, as he will not feature due to a serious injury. As for Sanchez’s selected squad for the tournament, he does not have any injury concerns from their warm-up games ahead of the opener against Venezuela.
Bundesliga pair Piero Hincapie and Willian Pacho are also in line for starts, while exciting youngster Kendry Paez should take his spot in the team. Veteran striker Enner Valencia will be a big presence on the side as he leads the line for Ecuador.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Dominguez; Preciado, Torres, Pacho, Hincapie; Ortiz, Caicedo; Sarmiento, Paez, Yeboah; Valencia
Venezuela
Fernando Batista will be grateful for not having any fitness concerns with his final squad for the Copa America, as he will try to name his strongest lineup for the game against Ecuador. One familiar face, Salomon Rondon, will lead the line for La Vinotinto, hoping add to the 41 goals he has scored for his nation.
Batista will go with a 4-3-3 shape to begin the tournament, as he will likely stick with the attacking principles of this squad rather than begin proceedings pragmatically. The manager might not change too much when it comes to formations, irrespective of who Venezuela are playing in the Copa America.
The experienced Rondon may have Yeferson Soteldo and Jefferson Savarino for support in the final third, while Girona’s Yangel Herrera will play his part in the midfield. Overall, Venezuela will have a competitive team at Batista’s disposal, which might cause problems for Ecuador, or so the manager will hope.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Romo; Navarro, Makoun, Angel, Gonzalez; Casseres, Martinez, Herrera; Savarino, Rondon, Soteldo
Key Stats
- The last time the two teams met was in November 2023, with the game ending in a draw.
- Ecuador and Venezuela have one victory each from their last six games against each other, drawing four of those clashes.
- Venezuela failed to win a group game in the 2021 edition of the Copa America.
- Venezuela is one point and one spot ahead of Ecuador in the 2026 World Cup qualifying standings.
Player to Watch
Moises Caicedo
There are many top stars featured in Copa America. But when Ecuador play, all eyes will be on Chelsea star Moises Caicedo. A start against Venezuela will be his 43rd cap in national team colours, and he will want to make an early mark on the tournament.
Caicedo seems like an important part of Felix Sanchez’s desire for his Ecuador side to play, as his tenacity and powerful tackling in that midfield seem to be key factors. Nevertheless, the Chelsea man will be key in providing the defensive security for his defence and also allow his attacking teammates to flourish in front.
Prediction
Ecuador 2-1 Venezuela
Venezuela might have a decent enough squad to enter this tournament, but they are still considered outsiders to progress out of Group B. While Fernando Batista’s men tend to frustrate teams, they might lack the overall quality as compared to Ecuador.
Meanwhile, Felix Sanchez will want his side to make a fast start to proceedings and get three points from their opening game. The game will have a tough environment, but Ecuador have the quality on board to get a win and apply pressure on the likes of Jamaica and Mexico.