New Delhi, May 25 -- Ecuador could do with some good news.

Many provinces are under a state of emergency. Thousands of military and police are fighting a surge in crime driven by drug traffickers. Night-time curfews abound. The fuel crisis has caused severe disruption. The border with Colombia is volatile.

But hope is high and undiminished for Ecuador at the coming World Cup.

The team qualified second in South America to World Cup champion Argentina, losing only twice in 18 games, both times away by one goal in Argentina and Brazil.

Supporters of La Tri believe they're good enough to surpass their previous best World Cup result, the round of 16 in 2006 in Germany, where Ecuador was ousted by a David Beckham free kick.

"I bought a gia...