Dick Advocaat: Ecuador must work if they want to beat Curacao

Curacao's coach Dick Advocaat stated that Ecuador will need to work hard if they want to defeat his team in their upcoming match. Speaking at a press conference, Advocaat acknowledged Ecuador's superior squad, particularly noting their strong performance in South American qualifiers where they finished second behind Argentina.

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Ecuador has a better team than us.

"Ecuador has a better team than us," Advocaat admitted. However, he quickly added that his team intends to make their opponents earn every moment for the points. He also addressed Curacao's heavy 7-1 defeat against Germany in their opening match, emphasizing the need for realism and acknowledging the vast difference in skill level between the two teams.

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we are going to make them work for the points.

Despite the challenging results, Advocaat celebrated the opportunity for Curacao to compete on the World Cup stage. He highlighted the joy of the supporters who accompanied the team and expressed pride in the island's growing global recognition. "We are playing the World Cup here," he said, adding that everyone should be proud of this achievement. He noted that the name 'Curacao' was heard frequently during the match against Germany, helping to introduce the island to a wider audience.

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we must be realistic and understand that there is 'a big difference' between the two teams.

Advocaat, who is managing in his third World Cup after previous stints with the Netherlands and South Korea, reflected on how far the team has come. Curacao will face Ecuador in their second Group E match, with both teams having lost their openers. Ecuador fell 1-0 to Ivory Coast, while Curacao suffered their significant defeat to Germany. The match is scheduled to take place in Kansas City.

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We are playing the World Cup here.