Ecuador and Honduras coaches Reinaldo Rueda and Luis Suarez will face their old sides as the two group outsiders look to get their first points of the World Cup when they take on each other here on Friday.
Rueda’s Ecuador was beaten 2-1 by Switzerland in its opening Group E match thanks to Haris Seferovic’s stoppage time winner.
The Colombian lamented his side’s lack of killer instinct against the Swiss, but has insisted he won’t make any changes for the game against the country he led at the last World Cup.
“There is no time to cry. We have another game in front of us and we need to move on,” he said. “We know Honduras is a difficult opponent, is well-organised and it will be an intense match.”
Former Manchester City striker Felipe Caicedo will therefore continue to lead the line-up with Enner Valencia and Manchester United’s Antonio Valencia in support.
Suarez, meanwhile, guided Ecuador to its best ever showing at the World Cup when it reached the last 16 in 2006.
Honduras was easily swept aside 3-0 by France on Sunday after having Wilson Palacios sent off just before half-time. But Suarez is confident his side can get itself back into contention with its first ever World Cup win in its third appearance.
“We will have to prepare for a very important 90 minutes and we have to play better than against France.”
Oscar Garcia of Houston Dynamo is expected to replace the suspended Palacios in midfield, while centre-back Victor Bernandez is also a serious injury doubt after he was forced off at half-time against France.
