Switzerland are a much better team than Ecuador on paper, but if they have a weakness, it's their
fullbacks. And that's excellent news for Ecuador, who love to attack down the flanks with tricky wingers that take on their opponents directly.
Juventus' Stephan Lichtsteiner has a lot of experience, but is often more used to functioning as a wing-back, and Montero and Valencia could give him and Rodriguez a torrid time. Ecuador's 4-4-2 also means that neither centre-back will be able to
come over and bail their full-back out, so a disciplined defensive job from Switzerland's wingers to track back will be essential to their hopes of victory.
Noboa and Segundo Castilla
Both midfields here are of an energetic, solid variety, but Switzerland have the edge, and particularly if Noboa is absent or unfit, Ecuador need to avoid being trampled into the ground by the powerful Swiss engine room. With a 4-4-2, Ecuador will already be struggling to control the centre, and while it won't be essential to their gameplan, they simply can't allow the Swiss to overpower them at will. It'll likely be a mostly defensive task assigned to their two central men for this game.
This is a very unpredictable game - Switzerland are a very good side but they're facing a team that, while inferior, can exploit all their weaknesses. Add into the bargain that both sides can be quite temperamental and unpredictable, and it's more or less anyone's guess, but quality usually does tell on the biggest stage of all.
Verdict: Switzerland to win
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