Live Blog
ECUADOR are facing Senegal in their final Group A clash RIGHT NOW - and both teams can still advance.
The Ecuadorians held table-topping Netherlands to a 1-1 draw which has put them in a good position to progress to the next round.
But Senegal secured a crucial 3-1 win against hosts Qatar to keep them within touching distance of the two teams above.
Senegal HAVE to win this game to qualify for the knockout stages, while a point will do the job for Ecuador.
- Kick-off: 3pm UK
- Group A: LIVE TABLE
- TV channel: ITV 4
- Live stream: ITV X
- Ecuador XI: Galindez, Preciado, Torres, Hincapie, Estupinan, Franco, Caicedo, Plata, Estrada, Valencia
- Senegal XI: Mendy, Sabaly, Koulibaly, Jakobs, Diallo, Ciss, P. Gueye, Ndiaye, I. Gueye, Sarr, Dia
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Ecuador 0-0 Senegal
3. What a chance for Idrissa Gueye!
The Everton man gets on the end of a low cross from the left that deceives an entire crowd in front of him, presenting the midfielder with a huge sight of goal.
Gueye's first touch is a heavy one, and by the time he connects with a second to shoot, he is only able to slice it wide.
Kick-off - Ecuador v Senegal
1. There are drums and trumpets aplenty as Ecuador get us underway in this crucial Group A fixture.
Both sets of fans are dancing to their own beat right now, but only one group will be boogieing their way into the Last 16 come the end of this contest.
Here come the two teams!
The smiles are over for now, and instead it's two fully focused teams that take to the field in Al Rayyan.
Both sides know that they control their own destiny, and perhaps that pressure is etched on a few faces as they line up for the national anthems.
Ecuador's anthem has more motivation about it compared to Senegal's more sombre affair, but will that be the case when the game gets going - we're about to find out.
Kick-off is next.
All smiles for double Djorkaeff
A lovely moment ahead of kick-off as former World Cup winner Youri Djorkaeff comes face-to-face with the Ecuador star named after him.
Striker Djorkaeff Reasco was born in January 1999, some six months after the former French international had lifted the game's biggest prize on home soil.
Countdown to kick-off
There's ten minutes until we get going at the Khalifa International Stadium, and the fans are getting themselves in position for what is sure to be a tense afternoon.
How they stand in Group A
Netherlands are in control at the top of Group A with this afternoon's match against pointless Qatar to come.
However, the Dutch could be pipped to first spot by Ecuador should Gustavo Alfaro's team outscore them when facing Senegal.
All the South American side need to do is avoid defeat against Allou Cisse's men, but Senegal will leapfrog them with three points.
Prepare for a topsy-turvy afternoon.
Valencia on verge of history
Ecuador have been boosted by the news that their captain and talisman Enner Valencia is fit enough to start their crunch game against Senegal - and he could end up making World Cup history.
The former West Ham and Everton star was a doubt for today after exiting Friday's draw with the Netherlands due to injury.
The striker has scored his country's last six goals at World Cup finals - including three at this tournament - making him the first player to do so since Oleg Salenko for Russia in 1994.
No player in the history of the competition has ever scored seven consecutive goals for their country at World Cup finals.
Live from Khalifa International Stadium
Our man in Qatar this afternoon is Andy Dillon, and he's been in touch early doors to remind us that this game will have plenty of interested onlookers back home - particularly one Premier League manager.
"Ecuador versus Senegal is the game all England fans have one eye on as the winner could play the Three Lions if they win Group B.
It's peppered with Premier League players - two from Brighton in the starting line up for Ecuador and two from Chelsea for Senegal; making it a virtual Graham Potter tribute match.
Andy DillonThe Sun"Idrissa Gueye of Everton is also starting for the so-called Lions of Teranga.
"Ismaila Sarr of Watford completes a familiar team sheet for English football fans."
Senegal bring in Iliman Ndiaye
Senegal (4-2-3-1): 16 Mendy; 21 Sabaly, 3 Koulibaly, 14 Jakobs, 22 Diallo; 11 Ciss, 26 P Gueye; 13 Ndiaye, 5 I Gueye, 18 Sarr; 9 Dia
Captain Valencia starts for Ecuador
Ecuador (4-3-3): 1 Galindez; 17 Preciado, 2 Torres, 3 Hincapie, 7 Estupinan; 21 Franco, 8 Gruezo, 23 Caicedo; 19 Plata, 11 Estrada, 13 Valencia
Bookies torn on crucial outcome
The bookmakers have made Ecuador slight favourites to get the job done at the National Stadium this afternoon, but all three outcomes can be backed at odds against. Indeed, both the draw and a Senegalese victory are priced at the same 21/10.
- Ecuador win 29/20
- Draw 21/10
- Senegal win 21/10
Odds from Betfair correct at the time of post publication.
Readers, what's the score?!
The pundits have been busy saying that they wouldn't like to call this one, but we know that you're braver than that.
So why not correctly predict the score of Ecuador v Senegal for a chance to win our £5,000 prize?
Good afternoon from Al Rayyan
Welcome to our live coverage of the final Group A match between Ecuador and Senegal.
It's not exactly winner takes all in Al Rayyan but it's pretty close.
Should Ecuador avoid defeat this afternoon, then they will book their place in the Last 16 of Qatar 2022.
The Senegalese also have their destiny in their own hands, but they need a win to be certain of progression; a draw may be enough but only in the unlikely event that hosts Qatar beat the Netherlands in the group's other encounter.
And assuming the Dutch do the business, then there's every chance that we'll be watching England's opponents for the knockout stages this afternoon.
