When referee Mary Victoria Penso blew the final whistle in New Jersey, Sebastian Beccacece clambered over the stadium barriers to embrace his family. The Ecuador head coach had just watched his side beat Germany 2-1 – a victory that saved his job and sent his country to the World Cup knockout stages for only the second time in history.
Beccacece had made clear beforehand that defeat would mean his departure. "If things don't work, I will have to leave a place I love very much but I know it's all about results," he said in Wednesday's pre-match news conference. The pressure had been mounting after a goalless draw against Curacao last week, which prompted reports of a verbal confrontation between members of his family and supporters.
“Ecuador beat Germany 2-1 to reach World Cup knockouts, saving coach Beccacece's job and crushing Scotland's hopes.”
For large parts of the game, it looked as though both Ecuador and their manager were heading out. But a famous fightback secured their place in the last 32, and the Argentine tactician's raw celebration with his loved ones spoke volumes.
"If Ecuador hadn't won this game, he wouldn't have been in the job," former England captain Alan Shearer told BBC One. "He was looking for a reaction from his players and boy has he got one. Look at his reaction to family members, fans and friends – he deserves it."
Ecuador's road to this moment has been turbulent. Their 2026 qualifying campaign began with a three-point deduction for fielding Colombia-born Byron Castillo in 2022. They started under Felix Sanchez, who was sacked in the dressing room after a Copa America quarter-final shootout defeat by Argentina in July 2024. "They treat their coaches with great harshness," South American football expert Tim Vickery told BBC Sport.
Beccacece took charge in August 2024 and lost his first match 1-0 to Brazil – but his side did not lose again in 11 matches, qualifying as runners-up behind Brazil. Now, after beating the four-time world champions, he has earned more time at the helm.
The result has had a ripple effect far beyond Ecuador. Scotland, who had been relying on other results to reach the knockout stages for the first time, saw their chances crash from 42% to just 5.6%, according to calculations following Thursday's games. The Tartan Army's hopes are now hanging by a thread.