Mexico City, July 1 (IANS) Sebastian Beccacece has resigned as Ecuador head coach after the South American side’s FIFA World Cup campaign ended with a 2-0 defeat to Mexico in the Round of 32 on Tuesday. Speaking after the elimination, the Argentine confirmed that his tenure had come to an end following the expiry of his contract, saying he believed stepping aside was the right decision after Ecuador fell short of the objectives set for the tournament.
Beccacece, who took charge of Ecuador in August 2024, said the World Cup had always marked the conclusion of his agreement with the Ecuadorian Football Federation. While expressing gratitude for the opportunity, he admitted the team had not fulfilled the expectations it had set.
“My contract ends as soon as the World Cup is over, and since we didn’t achieve what we promised, the best thing is to step aside,” Beccacece said while speaking to the media after the game.
The 45-year-old also thanked the Ecuadorian Football Federation president, Francisco Egas, and the organisation for their faith in him during his tenure.
“I’m grateful to the president (Francisco Egas) for his trust and the freedom he gave me, and also to the federation. I’m leaving a role that I value greatly. We’ve built a legacy,” he added.
Ecuador’s World Cup journey came to an end after first-half goals from Julian Quinones and Raúl Jiménez guided tournament co-hosts Mexico to victory. The defeat followed an encouraging turnaround in the group stage, where Ecuador recovered from a difficult start to book a place in the knockout rounds with a memorable victory over Germany.
Reflecting on the defeat, Beccacece accepted full responsibility for the performance, acknowledging that his players had failed to produce the standards they had established during his time in charge.
“This group of players had created hope and expectation during the time we’ve been together. Mexico clearly outplayed us and that’s obviously my responsibility. We didn’t do what we do best and we deserved to lose,” he said.
He concluded his farewell by thanking both his players and the Ecuadorian people for their support throughout his tenure.
“I’m grateful to all the players and to the country for this journey and this adventure alongside them. I just want to say ‘thank you’,” he added.
Although Ecuador’s World Cup campaign ended in the first knockout round, Beccacece leaves having overseen a significant revival since his appointment. His side recovered from an inconsistent start to the South American qualifiers, finishing second behind Argentina and conceding only five goals in 18 qualification matches, while finishing above Colombia, Uruguay and Brazil.
During his spell in charge, Ecuador recorded nine wins, 12 draws and three defeats, and put together a 19-match unbeaten run before it was ended by Ivory Coast in their opening fixture of the World Cup.
After losses to Ivory Coast and a draw against tournament debutants Curaçao attracted criticism, Ecuador kept their hopes alive with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Germany in the final group match, securing a place in the Round of 32 as one of the eight best third-placed teams.
The achievement prompted Ecuadorian president Daniel Noboa to declare a national holiday, but the campaign ultimately concluded with Tuesday’s defeat to Mexico and the end of Beccacece’s tenure.
–IANS
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