Top 5 reasons Ecuador must be backed for World Cup progress

The weekend saw France hammer Switzerland and Ecuador edge past Honduras in a series of results that should encourage you to back the South Americans to progress.

Ladbrokes currently has Ecuador at 2/1 to progress to the second round – a price too tempting to ignore – and here are five reasons to back that bet.

France are home and hosed

Les Bleus 5-2 victory over Switzerland for a number of reasons, but for France it means that a place in the second round surely beckons, with Didier Deschamps’ team three points clear of their nearest rivals and currently boasting a +6 goal difference.

With top spot in the group secured, France could take their foot off the gas when Ecuador come calling, having only once won all three of the group stage fixtures in the current format of the World Cup.

Ecuador possess plenty of attacking threat

Were it not for a last-gasp Haris Seferovic strike, Ecuador would be heading into the final game with an extra point in tow, having impressed for large spells against Switzerland before succumbing to the late winner.

La Tri have impressed in front of goal though with hot transfer property Enner Valencia racking up three goals in two games to leave Ecuador somewhat confident heading into this game.

Switzerland could still be shaky

Ottmar Hitzfeld’s team may have started the World Cup with a much-needed win, but their second game against France was a horror show for Switzerland, who shipped five goals before recovering somewhat to lose 5-2.

Defensively frail throughout, the Swiss may still be reeling from that result when Honduras come calling, and will be nervous at the prospect of exiting the tournament having been tipped to reach the next stage.

Honduras have broken their duck

Honduran football legend Carlo Costly shook off any worries of an injury against Ecuador, scoring an early goal to put Honduras into a shock lead and end their long wait for another World Cup goal.

Ecuador may have rallied back to win the game, but Honduras can take plenty of heart from the result and, provided they perform in the same tough-tackling manner against the Swiss, a result may not be out of the question.

There’s history between Honduras and Switzerland

In the 2010 World Cup Switzerland headed into their final fixture against Honduras knowing that a victory would see them progress to the next round.

But Hitzfeld’s team struggled to break down the Hondurans, with the game ultimately ending 0-0 in a result that sent the Swiss crashing out, cursing the name of the Central American outfit. With Switzerland struggling for goals in previous games, a repeat isn’t out of the question.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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