Ecuador
Today's Talking Points
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1Ecuador's World Cup ended in the Round of 32, beaten by hosts Mexico at the Estadio Azteca — a tough draw and an even tougher venue, and their tournament finished there.
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2The result everyone will remember is the one before it: Ecuador beat Germany 2-1 in their final group game, the result that effectively set up Germany's shock exit a round later. Beating a team ranked well above you, in the game that decides who tops the group, is the kind of result that gets replayed for years.
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3It wasn't all attacking fireworks — Ecuador also ground out a 0-0 draw against World Cup debutants Curaçao, the tighter, less glamorous result that ultimately meant just as much to finishing third and advancing as one of the best third-placed teams.
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4Chelsea's Moisés Caicedo was the engine of the whole run, anchoring midfield and doing the unglamorous work that let Ecuador's more attacking players get on the ball in good positions.
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5Beating Germany and reaching the Round of 32 is a genuinely strong World Cup for Ecuador — the kind of tournament that raises expectations for next time, which is either exciting or a little bit dangerous depending on how the next four years go.
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Top thing to say down the pub
Ecuador beat Germany in the group stage — the same Germany that then got knocked out by Paraguay. Ecuador saw it coming before anyone else did.
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Avoid saying
"Lucky group stage, nothing more" — they beat Germany with a game plan, not luck, then went and got a professional 0-0 against a well-organised Curaçao side. That's a team playing to a plan, not fluking it.