Ecuador's training base here bears a striking resemblance to England's. Like the Three Lions, El Tri have retreated to a genteel spa town, though the burgers of Bad Kissingen have paid for their guests' stay, whereas in Baden-Baden they may be approaching the point at which they would pay theirs to leave. The mountain air and spring water has also had markedly different affect on the form of the sides.
Despite comfortable qualification England have struggled to convince their followers that significant progress is possible. Ecuador, by contrast, have soared into the knock-out stage for the first time - the first team to reach the last 16 - and, until their capitulation against Germany, prompted comparisons with the Colombia sides that so discomforted European opponents in the 1990s.
The comparison goes further than yellow shirts and an obvious comfort on the ball. Their coach Luis Fernando Suárez is the second successive Colombian to take charge of the team and has adapted the close-passing patience of his countrymen to fit a 4-4-2 based on width, pace and a high tempo. Speaking as they prepared behind closed doors yesterday he preached a gospel of ball retention and rhythm, insisting his side have more than an underdogs chance against England.
"There's a real possibility for us," he said. "If England play as they have been doing, or if they play worse, then they can be beaten. You are only afraid of the unknown, and we are familiar with England now. We have nothing to fear."
Few who saw England struggle to defeat Trinidad & Tobago would argue that a repeat of that form could be terminal. Suárez is familiar enough with the English football psyche, however, to know that his opponents will improve. "We expect England's players to raise their game. Brazil and Germany did not start very well but they have learned how to get better. But if we can exploit the weakness they have shown then we have a great chance and we have to take it."
He has prepared for the biggest game of his career by reading the works of Argentinian psychologists and the former US secretary of state Colin Powell, and is neither shocked nor awed by his opponents.
"England are the favourites, there's no doubt about that. When you see the names on the teamsheet and look at their players most people would say that England will beat Ecuador, but we know what we are capable off and we know who we have beaten. We are in the second round because we deserve to be and we have earned the right to fight."
For Ecuador the game is a chance to outstrip even their wildest expectations. "This game is the difference between a good World Cup and a great World Cup," said Suárez. "It's going to be very hot, but my players are the fittest and strongest they have ever been and have the mental strength to play 120 minutes. I am confident we can last the extra 30 minutes."
He has also made plans to deal with England's most likely sources of goals, Wayne Rooney and set pieces, but has confidence in his own forwards, who have produced five goals in the two games in which the first team was on the pitch.
Carlos Tenorio scored two of them, and the Qatar-based striker shares his coach's conviction. "England are a historical team but we are definitely capable of causing an upset. The monster is always more scary when it is far away. Now we are here we will find out how frightening they are."
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