Ecuador

Manager Sebastián Beccacece has expressed a desire for his Ecuador to "defend like Arsenal and attack like Barcelona". The latter is still a work in progress, but they have done about as well as you can hope with the former. Led by Piero Hincapié and Willian Pacho, Ecuador's defense have conceded just five goals in their last 18 CONMEBOL qualifying games (two in the 12 coached by Beccacece). Not only do Ecuador boast a wealth of talent in the back line, they also have midfielders and forwards who love to both press high and track back out of the 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1.

This collective approach to defending means Ecuador can build up in a variety of shapes with frequent positional rotation. Hincapié tends to maintain a wide position to allow Pedro Vite or Moisés Caicedo (sometimes both) more liberty in the central areas and half-spaces and facilitate interchange with the wingers, while Alan Franco will often invert and occupy the deeper space. While building out of the back is not an issue for this gifted defense and midfield group, translating possession into goals, especially from open play, can be a bit trickier. 36-year old Enner Valencia is still by far the team's best finisher and the only member of the squad with double-digit international goals (49 in 105 caps). Gonzalo Plata is the player with the next-highest tally (8 goals in 50 caps), but offers more in flair and the ability to stretch the pitch.