Ecuador Coach Celebrates Shock Win Over Germany After Surviving Job Pressure

Sebastián Beccacece, coach of Ecuador, erupted in celebration at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey after his team beat Germany 2-1 and clinched a place in the World Cup round of 32. He climbed into the stands, ran to his family, and embraced them in tears after what had been a do-or-die match for both Ecuador’s tournament hopes and his own job security.

Beccacece had said before the game that if Ecuador failed to reach the knockout stage, he would leave his post. Public pressure had intensified after a disappointing start to the tournament, including a frustrating 0-0 draw with one of the weakest sides in the competition, Curaçao. Reports said a verbal clash also broke out after that game between members of the coach’s family and angry fans. After the win over Germany, he said, “We don’t feel like we are in hell, and not in paradise either. We stay with our feet on the ground and keep thinking correctly.”

Ecuador’s path to this World Cup had already been complicated. The team began its qualifying campaign with a three-point deduction because of the Byron Castillo case, involving a player born in Colombia and the controversy over his use in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers. The squad recovered and eventually reached the tournament, first under Spanish coach Félix Sánchez, who won three of his first six qualifiers before being dismissed after a quarterfinal exit to Argentina in the Copa América.

Beccacece took over after a 1-0 loss to Brazil, then led Ecuador on an 11-match unbeaten run to second place in South America behind Argentina. The team arrived at the World Cup unbeaten in 19 straight matches, but lost its opener 1-0 to Ivory Coast in stoppage time and then drew Curaçao. After the Germany upset, Beccacece said he was thinking about Ecuador’s 19 million people and about his late father, adding that the victory was historic and that “the most important thing is to find balance.”