GROUP G / ECUADOR

*--* World Cup record: Debut Best finish: Debut 1998 showing: Did not qualify Coach: Hernan Dario Gomez. En route to guiding Ecuador to its first World Cup, Gomez was attacked, pistol-whipped and shot in the leg by a group of men angered over the decision to leave the son of the country’s former president, Abdala Bucaram, off the national under-20 team. Gomez soon resigned, only to return after the nation’s fans, his players and Bucaram urged him to reconsider Players to watch: Ivan Kaviedes, Agustin Delgado, Alex Aguinaga, Ulises de la Cruz In brief: Amazing but true, Ecuador finished second behind Argentina in the South American World Cup qualification group, one point ahead of Brazil. With a suspect defense, finishing second in this group appears beyond the team’s reach Quick quote: “It’s important that the public are aware that Ecuador are going to the World Cup to learn.”--Gomez Forecast: Bottom of the group

*--*