Beccacece resigns as Ecuador coach after 2-0 World Cup exit to Mexico at Azteca

Sebastian Beccacece resigned as Ecuador head coach on Tuesday after his side were beaten 2-0 by Mexico in the World Cup round of 32 at the Azteca Stadium, ending a tournament the Argentine had vowed would be the country’s finest.

Mexico dominated the opening 45 minutes and their defence held firm throughout, denying an Ecuador side that had arrived in the knockout stage with genuine momentum following a dramatic comeback win over Germany. The atmosphere inside a packed Azteca proved an additional obstacle for the visitors, and they could not find the goal that might have changed the contest after improving in the second half.

“Our contract ended with the World Cup. I don’t think we were able to achieve the feat we promised: to make this the best World Cup ever. Today it’s my turn to say goodbye,” Beccacece said after the final whistle. “That’s why I have to leave. I would have liked to continue because what I received from the players and the management warranted the possibility of continuing. But I understand how this works and it hurts, but I think the decision was clear.”

Beccacece was candid about where the match was lost. “We were outplayed in the first half,” he admitted, before acknowledging that Ecuador’s second-half response, though more competitive in terms of possession, ultimately came to nothing. “We fought back, but we couldn’t find the goal that would have given us a boost.”

Despite the disappointment, the departing coach was keen to highlight the character of a squad he described as Ecuador’s youngest-ever World Cup group. “The legacy is from the players, because they have been the youngest team of Ecuador,” he said. “I have no complaints, only gratitude to the people and the players. I received so much gratitude and affection from the bottom of my heart. The boys gave me two beautiful hours after the match and that’s what we’re left with.”

Beccacece’s exit leaves Ecuador searching for a new head coach as they look to build on the foundations laid by a youthful squad that showed enough in this tournament to suggest a promising future.