Netherlands vs Ecuador World Cup lineup, starting 11 for Group A match at Qatar 2022

David Lynch

Netherlands vs Ecuador World Cup lineup, starting 11 for Group A match at Qatar 2022 image

Having both won their opening games of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the Netherlands and Ecuador meet with Group A supremacy at stake.

For both teams, this meeting represents an opportunity to put one foot in the knockout stages before any other in the competition.

However, a typically testing major tournament schedule could force both to freshen up their teams for this clash. 

Below are the predicted lineups for the Netherlands and Ecuador.

MORE: World Cup 2022 Group A: Match schedule, fixtures, times and dates 

Netherlands vs Ecuador lineups

Head coach Louis van Gaal has revealed that he could be willing to take a risk with Memphis Depay's fitness, such is his importance to the Netherlands.

The Barcelona forward was only fit enough to be a substitute against Senegal but could be thrust quickly into the starting line-up, if Van Gaal's words are anything to go by.

"He has played 30 minutes and the next step would be 45 minutes," Van Gaal said. "The injury he has makes it so difficult to decide when he can start, so we have to look at him.

"But he is an extraordinary player and so I have set aside my principles because I consider him to be incredibly important to my team.

"I explained this to the players, that I am doing all this for Memphis, and the players accepted it."

MORE: When is Netherlands vs Ecuador at FIFA World Cup? Updated TV schedule, time, odds

Netherlands starting 11

Netherlands (3-4-1-2, right to left): 23. Noppert (GK) — 2. Timber, 4. Van Dijk, 5. Ake — 22. Dumfries, 20. Koopmeiners, 21. De Jong, 17. Blind — 14. Klaassen — 8. Gakpo, 7. Bergwijn.

  • Injured: none
  • Suspended: none

Depay was not risked from the start, with Cody Gakpo looking to build on his goalscoring start to the tournament alongside Steve Bergwijn in attack.

Meanwhile, after keeping a clean sheet in the opener, which happened to be his international debut, Andries Noppert is expected to continue in goal.

Ecuador starting 11

Ecuador (3-4-3, right to left): 1. Galindez (GK) — 25. Porozo, 2. F. Torres, 3. Hincapie — 17. Preciado, 20. Mendez, 23. Caicedo, 7. Estupinan — 19. Plata, 11. Estrada, 13. Valencia.

  • Injured: none
  • Suspended: none

Enner Valencia scored twice against Qatar but will be assessed ahead of this one after feeling a heavy challenge, with coach Gustavo Alfaro saying: "The tests show there is no injury. That is important, but he took a severe blow."

With no other injury concerns, Ecuador could be otherwise unchanged.

Netherlands vs Ecuador World Cup squads

Here are the 26 names on each team's squad lists at the World Cup in Qatar:

Netherlands

Position No. Player Club Age Caps
GK 1 Remko Pasveer Ajax (NED) 38 2
GK 22 Andries Noppert Heerenveen (NED) 28 0
GK 13 Justin Bijlow Feyenoord (NED) 24 6
DEF 4 Virgil van Dijk Liverpool (ENG) 31 49
DEF 5 Nathan Ake Manchester City (ENG) 27 29
DEF 26 Jeremie Frimpong Bayer Leverkusen (NED) 21 0
DEF 6 Stefan de Vrij Inter (ITA) 30 59
DEF 17 Daley Blind Ajax (NED) 32 94
DEF 3 Matthijs de Ligt Bayern Munich (GER) 23 38
DEF 16 Tyrell Malacia Manchester United (ENG) 23 6
DEF 2 Jurrien Timber Ajax (NED) 21 10
DEF 22 Denzel Dumfries Inter (ITA) 26 37
MID 21 Frenkie de Jong Barcelona (SPA) 25 45
MID 14 Davy Klassen Ajax (NED) 29 35
MID 25 Xavi Simons PSV Eindhoven (NED) 19 0
MID 11 Steven Berghuis Ajax (NED) 30 39
MID 15 Marten de Roon Atalanta (ITA) 31 30
MID 24 Kenneth Taylor Ajax (NED) 20 2
MID 20 Teun Koopmeiners Atalanta (ITA) 24 9
FWD 10 Memphis Depay Barcelona (SPA) 28 81
FWD 7 Steven Bergwijn Ajax (NED) 25 24
FWD 8 Cody Gakpo PSV Eindhoven (NED) 23 9
FWD 19 Wout Weghorst Besiktas (TUR) 30 15
FWD 18 Vincent Janssen Royal Antwerp (BEL) 28 20
FWD 9 Luuk de Jong PSV Eindhoven (NED) 32 38
FWD 12 Noa Lang Club Brugge (BEL) 23 5

Ecuador

Position Player Club Age Caps
GK Alexander Dominguez Deportes Tolima (ECU) 35 67
GK Hernan Galindez Aucas (ECU) 35 12
GK Moises Ramirez Independiente (ECU) 22 2
DEF Robert Arboleda Sao Paulo (BRA) 31 32
DEF Xavier Arreaga Seattle Sounders (USA) 28 17
DEF Pervis Estupinan Brighton (ENG) 24 28
DEF Piero Hincapie Bayer Leverkusen (GER) 20 21
DEF William Pacho Royal Antwerp (BEL) 21 0
DEF Diego Palacios LAFC (USA) 23 11
DEF Jackson Porozo Troyes (FRA) 22 5
DEF Angelo Preciado Genk (BEL) 24 25
DEF Felix Torres Santos Laguna (MEX) 25 16
MID Moises Caicedo Brighton (ENG) 20 25
MID Jose Cifuentes LAFC (USA) 23 10
MID Alan Franco Talleres (ARG) 24 23
MID Carlos Gruezo Augsburg (GER) 27 45
MID Jhegson Mendez LAFC (USA) 25 31
MID Ayrton Preciado Santos Laguna (MEX) 28 27
MID Jeremy Sarmiento Brighton (ENG) 20 9
FWD Michael Estrada Cruz Azul (MEX) 26 36
FWD Romario Ibarra Pachuca (MEX) 28 24
FWD Angel Mena Club Leon (MEX) 34 45
FWD Gonzalo Plata Real Valladolid (SPA) 21 29
FWD Djorkaeff Reasco Newell's Old Boys (ARG) 23 3
FWD Kevin Rodriguez Imbabura SC (ECU) 22 0
FWD Enner Valencia Fenerbahce (TUR) 33 74

David Lynch

David Lynch Photo

David Lynch is a freelance football journalist primarily covering Liverpool FC. He has reported on the the Reds for over a decade for publications such as the Sunday Mirror and Evening Standard, carving out a reputation as a trusted voice on all things Anfield in the process. Having followed Liverpool across England and Europe over the course of his career, David has filed from illustrious venues such as Camp Nou, the Allianz Arena and the Estadio do Dragao, as well as from multiple Champions League finals.