World Cup 2026: What Ecuador’s Coach Said After a Painful Opening Match Setback

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Ecuador head coach, Sebastian Beccacece, has expressed disappointment following his side’s narrow 1-0 defeat to Côte d’Ivoire in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Beccacece stated that his team made key tactical changes after the break and did enough to earn at least a point from the encounter but were undone by a late goal.

Côte d’Ivoire secured all three points thanks to a dramatic 90th-minute strike from substitute Amad Diallo, who emerged as the match winner against the South American side.

Reflecting on the result during his post-match media briefing, the Ecuador manager insisted his players responded well in the second half despite the disappointing outcome.

“In the second half, we made the necessary adjustments and were in control enough to secure at least a draw,” Beccacece said at his post-match interview.

The tactician praised his players for their determination against a quality opponent while admitting the result fell short of expectations.

“We put in a tremendous effort against a strong opponent. The final result wasn’t what we wanted, but it’s just the beginning, and we have to keep working.”

Ecuador will now shift focus to their next Group E fixture against Curacao, while Côte d’Ivoire prepare for a crucial clash with Germany.

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