clint dempsey
Clint Dempsey has been a key player for USA in the Copa America 2016 Getty

USA host Ecuador in the 2016 Copa America Centenario first quarter-final clash at the CenturyLink Field in Seattle on Thursday (16 June).

Where to watch live

Kick-off is at 2.30am BST (on Tuesday). Live coverage of the match is available on Premier Sports in the UK.

Overview

The 2016 edition of the Copa America has been exciting to watch, the group stages have brought us excitement and shocks, the biggest surprise being Brazil failing to qualify for the knock-out stage. Hosts USA who were expected to qualify for the quarter-finals have had a pretty solid tournament despite their humiliating 2-0 defeat at the hands of Colombia in the opening game.

Since then they have bounced back, trouncing Costa Rica 4-0 while defeating Paraguay 1-0 by the slimmest of margins. Veteran forward Clint Dempsey in particular has been in impressive form, scoring twice and assisting in two goals. Another one to impress has been young midfielder Christian Pulisic who despite being used in a substitute role has shown his class.

DeAndre Yedlin will miss out due to his foolish sending off in their last game against Paraguay. Other than that coach Jurgen Klinsmann has a full strength squad to choose from.

Their opponents Ecuador come into this clash after finishing second in a group featuring Brazil and Peru making them dark horses going into the knock-out stages. They have a solid foundation of Europe-based players who has helped them especially in pressure situations; in Miller Bolanos and Enner Valencia, the Los Amarillos have two players who are in the form of their lives.

The South American side will be boosted by the availability of Gabriel Achilier and by Jaime Ayovi's return to training, though key player Miller Bolanos is a doubt for the game after picking up a muscular injury.

Prediction

  • Ecuador to win

Betting odds (betfair)

  • USA to win: 17/10
  • Draw: 11/5
  • Ecuador to win: 15/8

Team news

USA

Possible XI: Guzan, Johnson, Cameron, Brooks, Besler, Bradley, Beckerman, Jones; Zardes, Dempsey, Wood

Ecuador

Possible XI: Dominguez, Mina, Paredes, Ayovi, J. Ayovi, Noboa, Motero, A.Valencia, Gruezo, Ayovi, E.Valencia