Ecuador arrive at their fifth World Cup with arguably their finest group yet, having sailed through qualifying on the back of a meanest-in-class defence — just five goals conceded in eighteen games. Sebastián Beccacece has bolted on a relentless, high-pressing identity, and the dream is simple: finally win that elusive first knockout match. The nagging worry is at the other end, where finding goals beyond a familiar old face remains the unanswered question.