Match Preview: Australia vs Ecuador

The wait is finally over as the Subway Socceroos play their first match on home soil since the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ when they face Ecuador at CommBank Stadium on Friday night.  

The games serve as an opportunity for the Australian public to come out and show their support to the team following its historic performance in Qatar, while internally it is a clean slate for players looking to impress and compete for places.

Despite being friendly matches, they effectively mark the beginning of a new cycle with qualification for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ commencing later this year and the AFC Asian Cup set to take place early next year.

The two upcoming matches against La Tri also offer Head Coach, Graham Arnold, the chance to experiment and blood more of the exciting youngsters coming through the system with five players players in line to potentially make their senior international debuts.

Arnold intimated in his pre-match press conference he will name a balanced side, comprising of a blend of youth and experience, revealing he plans on starting Milos Degenek at right-back.

Friday night's encounter will be the first meeting between the two sides since March 2014, the only previous clash involving the two nations.

Ecuador certainly provide strong competition, boasting the likes of Moises Caicedo, Pervis Estupiñán and Piero Hincapié in what promises to be a fascinating game. However, forward Enner Valencia has been ruled out through injury.

READ MORE: Talking Points: Graham Arnold & Harry Souttar's Australia v Ecuador Pre-Match Press Conference
READ MORE: Looking back: Our last meeting with Ecuador

Opta Insights: Australia vs Ecuador - 24 March

• This will be just the second meeting between Australia and Ecuador in men’s internationals and the first since March 2014 when Ecuador won 4-3 on the day after trailing 3-0 at the half-time break.
• Australia have lost only one of their last 10 men’s internationals on home soil (W7 D2), keeping five clean sheets in the last six games in that span; their only loss was a 2-0 defeat to Japan in March 2022.
• Ecuador will be looking to avoid back-to-back defeats in men’s internationals for the first time since June 2021 after losing 2-1 to Senegal in their last game; they were unbeaten in nine straight games prior to that loss (W3 D6).
• Craig Goodwin (Australia) scored two goals and made two assists across his nine appearances for the Socceroos in 2022; he was the only player to score and assist multiple goals for Australia across the year.
• Mathew Ryan is the only player in the current Socceroos squad from the Australia team that lost to Ecuador 4-3 in their last meeting in March 2014; Matthew Leckie (unavailable due to injury) also started in that game.

World Ranking

Australia: 27
Ecuador: 41

What they said

Graham Arnold

I think it'd be a mixture (in terms of team selection regarding young and experienced players). Obviously, with some of the older players that we used quite often at the World Cup they're out injured. So it's a great opportunity to blend. I think if you put just the kids in all alone without the older players for the leaders to help them on the pitch, it could be a little bit daunting for them. But I think a good mixture, and a good blend of players will be crucial.

Harry Souttar

I think you've only got to look at kind of the Olympic campaign (from Tokyo in 2021) and how many of the lads were in the squad were in that (World Cup) squad and see how far they've come. What kind of clubs they've gone to, how many minutes they're playing. Four years is such a long time in football for this next campaign. So I'm sure they're going to grow with clubs and with the national team and again, there'll be youngsters coming through behind them as well.

How to watch

The matches against Ecuador will be broadcast live and free on Australia's 'Home of Football,' Network Ten.  

The first match at CommBank Stadium in Sydney will be shown live on 10 in Sydney and Melbourne, while live on 10 Bold in Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.

The friendly will also be streamed via both 10 Play and Paramount+.

Australia's second clash against La Tri at Melbourne's Marvel Stadium will be broadcast live on 10 Bold and streamed live via 10 Play and Paramount+.  

International viewers can watch the match here.

How to buy tickets 

Tickets for Australia's at CommBank Stadium in Sydney on Friday, 24 March (8.00pm AEDT kick-off) and Marvel Stadium in Melbourne on Tuesday, 28 March (7.30pm AEDT kick-off), are ON SALE NOW! 

Follow the links below to purchase yours!

• MATCH ONE (March 24, Sydney) - CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE 
• MATCH TWO (March 28, Melbourne) - CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE
• Sydney and Melbourne to host celebration matches against Ecuador
• Tickets start at $10 for Juniors, $15 for Concessions and $20 for Adults

SUBWAY SOCCEROOS SQUAD – WELCOME HOME VS ECUADOR – MARCH 2023

SUBWAY SOCCEROOS’ WELCOME HOME SERIES – MATCH SCHEDULE

Match Day One
Date: Friday, 24 March 2023
Venue: CommBank Stadium, Sydney
Time: 8.00pm AEDT
Tickets: https://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=SOCECU23
Broadcast: Live on 10 in Sydney and Melbourne, 10 Bold in Adelaide, Brisbane, and Perth, and on 10 Play and Paramount+.

Match Day Two
Date: Tuesday, 28 March 2023
Venue: Marvel Stadium, Melbourne
Time: 7:30pm AEDT
Tickets: https://www.ticketmaster.com.au/event/25005E53BFD52417
Broadcast: Live on 10 Bold, 10 Play and Paramount+

Melbourne Two Match Deal
Subway Socceroos v Ecuador: Tuesday, 28 March, 7:30pm AEDT
CommBank Matildas v France: Friday, 14 July, 7:30pm AEST
Venue: Marvel Stadium, Melbourne
Tickets: https://www.ticketmaster.com.au/event/25005E618FB73FBF