Ecuador declared a national holiday after the country’s football team booked a place in the FIFA World Cup knockout stage for the first time in 20 years with a stunning 2-1 comeback victory over Germany in their final Group E match on Friday, June 26.
President Daniel Noboa announced the holiday soon after the final whistle, hailing the players and coaching staff for overcoming criticism to deliver one of the nation’s greatest footballing achievements.
“Thanks to the players and the coach who, despite the criticism, the insults and the tough times they went through, managed to bounce back and bring this immense joy to the entire country. Tomorrow, holiday! Long live Ecuador,” Noboa wrote on social media.
ECUADOR STUN GERMANY TO REACH KNOCKOUTS
The victory capped a remarkable turnaround for Ecuador, who entered the match without a goal in the tournament and facing the prospect of an early exit.
Germany, already assured of top spot in Group E, struck inside two minutes through Leroy Sané. The goal, however, sparked controversy after Ecuador midfielder Pedro Vite appeared to be caught by a high boot from Aleksandar Pavlović in the build-up. Despite furious protests, referee Tori Penso allowed play to continue and VAR did not intervene.
Rather than crumble, Ecuador responded immediately.
Seven minutes later, Vite won possession high up the pitch before Nilson Angulo unleashed a curling strike from outside the area that squeezed through Pavlović’s legs and into the net. It was Ecuador’s first goal of the tournament, arriving with their 40th shot of the World Cup.
The equaliser transformed the contest. Germany continued to dominate possession, but Ecuador grew increasingly dangerous on the counterattack, forcing Manuel Neuer into several important interventions.
Germany thought they had regained the advantage early in the second half when Kai Havertz won a penalty, only for VAR to overturn the decision after ruling that Sané had committed a foul earlier in the move.
RODRIGUEZ INSPIRES LATE WINNER
With qualification slipping away, Ecuador coach Sebastián Beccacece turned to Kevin Rodríguez in the 64th minute – a substitution that proved decisive.
In the 77th minute, Rodríguez flicked on a corner into the six-yard box, where Gonzalo Plata reacted quickest to poke home the winner and send the Ecuador bench into wild celebrations.
Germany threw players forward in search of an equaliser during a tense finale, but Ecuador defended resolutely to preserve their lead.
When the final whistle sounded, Ecuador’s players collapsed to the turf in celebration while their supporters erupted in the stands.
Two decades after their last appearance in the World Cup knockout rounds, Ecuador had returned to the last 32 – and the achievement was celebrated across the country with a national holiday.
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