Louis van Gaal warned his Holland side they will have no chance of winning the World Cup unless they raise their level.
The Dutch remain unbeaten in the group stage, but Van Gaal told his players they will come unstuck if they cannot improve in possession of the ball. The draw leaves Holland and Ecuador level on points and goal difference, with both only needing a point from their final group games to advance to the knockout stage.
But Van Gaal was far from happy and said: “If you want to become world champions, we need to improve a lot, because the quality of the opponents we have yet to face is at a much higher level.
“We didn’t play a good match. We didn’t play well in terms of ball possession and that’s our problem. Also, all the second balls, all the duels, were won by Ecuador. If that happens, then you cannot win. I was satisfied that we drew 1-1 but I was not satisfied with the game.”
The Dutch took advantage of slack defending from Ecuador after six minutes, Davy Klaassen laying the ball off for Cody Gakpo, who sent an unstoppable left-foot shot into the net.
It was Gakpo’s second goal of the tournament, after scoring in Holland’s 2-0 victory over Senegal, one which underlined the PSV Eindhoven winger’s huge talent, and why he is wanted by many top clubs, including Manchester United.
Ecuador was pushed back for much of the first 20 minutes, but put Holland under a sustained spell of pressure thereafter, with most of their attacks coming down the Dutch right side, Pervis Estupinan and skipper Enner Valencia combining well to cause a threat.
Valencia, who scored twice in Ecuador’s 2-0 opening win over hosts Qatar, came close to levelling the score just after the half-hour mark, cutting inside from the left and unleashing a goalbound shot that Dutch keeper Andries Noppert did well to palm away.
Ecuador thought they had equalised in first-half added-time when Estupinan turned the ball in from Angelo Preciado’s low shot, but the goal was ruled out as Jackson Porozo was standing offside and in the Noppert’s line of vision.
Yet there was no doubt about Valencia’s equaliser four minutes after the restart. Esupinan’s shot was spilled by Noppert, with Valencia perfectly placed to steer the loose ball into the net for his third goal of the tournament.
Ecuador were in control and unlucky not to go ahead just before the hour, when Gonzalo Plata thudded the bar with a long-range effort, with Holland on the backfoot, but the game petered out into a draw.
Valencia was forced off with an injury to his right knee late on, but coach Gustavo Alfaro said: “He is going through such a good spell and I am so happy for him. I think his injury will be okay.”
