Netherlands play Ecuador in Doha in the World Cup on Friday.
When: Friday Nov. 25, 10pm BST (7pm local)
Where: Khalifa International Stadium, Doha
KEY STATS
* Netherlands have been runners-up at three World Cups and are competing in their 11th finals.
* They finished top of their World Cup qualifying group and are unbeaten in 16 games since their elimination at the last European Championship by the Czech Republic.
* Netherlands began their Group A campaign with a 2-0 victory over African champions Senegal.
* Ecuador are playing in their fourth World Cup with aspirations to surpass their previous best performance when they reached the last 16 in Germany in 2006.
* Ecuador secured South America's last automatic qualifying spot by coming fourth in a perennially tough group, winning seven games and scoring 27 goals in the 18-match slog.
* Ecuador handed a first ever defeat to a World Cup host when they beat Qatar 2-0 in their opening Group A game.
* The two nations have only played each other twice, both in friendlies. The Dutch won 1-0 in 2006 and they drew 1-1 in 2014.
PREVIEW
Ecuador or the Netherlands will take a huge step towards the second round of the World Cup if either can force a victory in Friday's Group A clash at the Khalifa International Stadium after both sides won their openers in Qatar.
But while Ecuador have set their target of advancing to the round of 16, as they did in Germany in 2006, the Dutch will be looking for a vastly improved performance to back up coach Louis van Gaal's assertion that they can go on and win the World Cup.
The Netherlands were far from their efficient best in beating African champions Senegal 2-0 in their opening group game on Monday.
Van Gaal was pleased with the three points, and vindication of his surprise decision to hand goalkeeper Andries Noppert an international debut, but did criticise the manner of the victory, as did captain Virgil van Dijk.
"We won but we also know that we can and must do better," the skipper said.
"Going forward we sometimes tried to force things, and we too often left ourselves exposed to Senegal's counter-attacks. That is an area in which we will need to improve because it is an art that our next opponents, Ecuador, are very good at.
"But I am optimistic because I feel we are going to get better," Van Dijk added.
Ecuador are confident that Enner Valencia, who got both goals in their 2-0 win over hosts Qatar on Sunday, will be fit to play despite some concerns over a knee sprain.
Goalkeeper Hernan Galindez said Saudi Arabia's shock win over Argentina on Tuesday proved no team was unbeatable.
“I think that Argentina's defeat will not be the last surprise of this World Cup," he added.
“Despite the victory of the Netherlands, they were evenly matched against Senegal. There are certainly ways to hurt the Netherlands.
“It will be a tough match, but I expect the Netherlands to approach us with respect,” added the 35-year-old.
The Dutch will likely give Memphis Depay the start after he came off the bench against Senegal for his first match in two months after struggling with a hamstring injury.
