Ecuador–First Cinderella is on the Way to the Ball
Lowly Ecuador, the team that wasn’t expected to be able to compete at sea level, has bounced Poland and Costa Rica out of the World Cup. Costa Rica didn’t seem to comprehend what exactly was at stake in the match as they were soundly thrashed 3-0.
What it also means is that a draw in the last match of the Group won’t be good enough for Germany to take the top spot. England will probably be in the unusual position of praying for a German win against Ecuador.
That won’t be a problem.
Ecuador will be very pleased at being able to take advantage of the Poland slip, while playing over their heads themselves for two matches, to get themselves out of the group stage.
Whatever else happens, this team will surely be considered the weakest in the next round.
I read a great article and interview before the Cup with the coach of Ecuador, Luis Fernando Suarez, who talked not about tactics but how much he believed in his team’s ability to win and how he expected nothing less than success. He went into great depth about his management of the players morale and how he was working to create a team. Reading this article, I had a sense that this Suarez is something special.
Suarez is young, as is his team and what we are all witnessing is the power of self confidence. Clearly Ecuador are tactically well prepared by their coach but what we are all witnessing is what can happen when 11 players work together and believe in their well prepared coach.
This is what the World Cup is all about. Go Ecuador!
I think the game against Germany will be a “back to reality” for Ecuador but I bet that Germany won’t dominate them and you never know, if Germany don’t concentrate, maybe the English will have Germany on their hands in round 2!