Ecuador v England: World Cup warm-up match preview

A look ahead to England’s first friendly game in Florida

Wayne Rooney trains in Miami as the former England captain Alan Shearer rejected calls to drop the him from the team (Getty Images)

After picking up two friendly wins and an equal number of losses at Wembley in their last four outings, England are now set to for their first warm-up game in Miami, just ten days before their first World Cup fixture against Italy.

Ecuador v England: Follow the match live by clicking here

A decisive win against Peru on Friday and the return of Phil Jones and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain from injuries must have brought plenty of smiles for manager Roy Hodgson. The Manchester United defender and the Arsenal winger suffered from shoulder and groin problems respectively and are now set to start tonight.

Southampton left-back Luke Shaw is expected to feature in the starting line-up as well after overcoming a cold that kept him on the sidelines in last week’s friendly. The 18-year-old is set to take Leighton Baines’s place as the Three Lions’ manager opts to rest the Everton player after a groin strain he suffered against Peru.

Ecuador are also part of this year’s World Cup and are expected to pose a very interesting threat to England as Hodgson insisted on facing South American teams ahead of the group stage clash against Uruguay.

KICK-OFF: Wednesday, 8pm

PAST TWO MEETINGS…

England 1 (Beckham) Ecuador 0, World Cup, June 2006

Ecuador 0 England 2 (Lee, Kidd), International Friendly, May 1970

STATS…

In their last 13 matches, Ecuador have only managed to pick up two wins.

England have never lost or drawn against Ecuador.

Ecuador manager Reinaldo Rueda is the third Colombian manager to guide Ecuador to the World Cup. He also featured in the last competition at South Africa where he managed Honduras; the team England will face in their final warm-up match.

The only England footballers who played when the two nations met last are Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Wayne Rooney.

ODDS…

Ecuador to win: 4.4

England to win: 2.02

Draw: 3.55

CLASSIC MOMENT/MATCH...

That would undoubtedly be David Beckham’s goal when the two sides’ clashed in the 2006 World Cup Round of 16. The Manchester United legend scored a magnificent free kick that led to England’s qualification to the quarter-finals. That was Becks’ last World Cup goal.

TV: Live on ITV at 8pm