itsbeautifuloutside

Ecuador v France

Rio de Janeiro, 25th June 2014

Match Report

Team news at the kick off tells us that Schneiderlin is earning his first cap for France, 'not a particularly French sounding name' according to Steve Wilson, fair enough, but well done to Morgan. Ecuador start the game knowing that they’ll need a draw or more likely a win to edge out Switzerland and after 10 minutes they learn that Shaqiri has given the Swiss the lead in their game against Honduras, which puts Ecuador under pressure.

Ecuador would need Enner Valencia to continue his good form, but disaster nearly strikes as he picks up an early knock, but a bit of magic spray gets him going again and he makes a burst through when Matuidi makes an uncharacteristic error in midfield, but the French manage to recover as they always do against the infrequent Ecuadorian attacks.

The first 30 minutes sees little goalmouth action, Sagna hits a cross over Benzema’s head but the French lack the urgency of the previous games and their final pass is usually wasteful in the same way that Ecuador’s are, although you get the feeling that it’s lack of quality from the South Americans rather than effort.

Morgan is keeping things simple, his usual tidy passes retain possession nicely although he is happy to sit at the base of the midfield rather than get in the box, allowing Pogba to do the more flashy stuff with mixed results. Pogba’s header is the best effort of the first half, well tipped over following a crossed free kick earned after a nice move involving Morgan a couple of times.

Ecuador’s best chance inevitably involves Enner Valencia, he leaps about 5 foot off the ground and gets in an excellent header downwards from a looping cross that forces a good low save from Lloris.

Noboa gets a head injury and comes back on wearing a strange hairnet bandage that makes him look like a yellow smurf.

At half time, Juninho plays the role of foreign pundit that doesn’t really say anything interesting, politely saying that England were very unlucky and have good young players. You can see the steam coming out of Chris Waddle’s ears and he goes on an excellent rant.

France start the second half with purpose as Sagna gets in a low cross that Griezmann gets on the end of, but Dominguez pulls off a brilliant one handed save to tip it onto the post. Then a challenge by Antonio Valencia leaves Digne on the deck, Valencia went over the top of the ball and gets a deserved red card although Philip Neville waffles on about ‘going for the ball’. It leaves Ecuador in a mess if they want to qualify, but they almost get in front straight away. Pogba dwells on it in midfield and is robbed by Noboa who breaks and exchanges passes with Enner Valencia, but Noboa completely scuffs his shot from the edge of the box. It’s just the kind of chance that Ecuador need to take if they are to win the game and it was completely wasted, despite the good incisive build up.

Enner Valencia was described by a certain poster on IBO as a shit Jay Rod (tongue in cheek I hope), I don’t think that’s fair and have been more and more impressed by him in this tournament, he’s unfortunate to be in a weak Ecuadorian side where he has stood out. I’d be quite happy for him to be the new Agustin Delgado for Saints!

France get a hold on the game with the extra player, Benzema playing in Matuidi who hits it high but straight at the keeper who blocks and both teams engage in some ridiculous shooting from stupid distances that go miles off target (Morgan included, after dinking the ball over his opponent to make the space). The French tend to do so in a careless way, Ecuador with increasing desperation that something miraculous might happen. Pogba heads another excellent chance wide, it’s not been his night tonight, although he clearly has some quality. Then we hear that Shaqiri has completed his hat trick for the Swiss- from what I saw in earlier games, Shaqiri had been a big let down for Switzerland, I have to assume he’s had a decent game (the goals look good) but it does nothing to dispel the inconsistent label I’ve given him. Aside from goals, I wonder what Spot made of him? It means Ecuador now need 2 goals.

With time running out, Ecuador at least give it a go and throw men forwards, Ibarra cuts inside and hits a powerful shot that Lloris saves well. This leaves spaces at the back and the French find openings but can’t find a way past Dominguez in goal who has had an excellent game, pulling off a particularly good save from Remy at full stretch. In stoppage time Giroud heads straight at him when he has the last chance to win it. Based on this I’ll give Dominguez man of the match (Lineker: 'the former bus conductor, makes lots of stops')

Overall the French cruised the game with minimal effort. Ecuador did their best but didn’t really have the quality to beat a side like France. A draw is a decent result for them usually, but in this context is not enough- they will look back to that last minute against Switzerland when they might have got a late winner but ended up conceding one. I obviously didn’t see the Switzerland-Honduras game tonight but based on what I saw in this group I felt a little sorry for Ecuador not to qualify as they put up more of a fight than Switzerland against France, albeit a less interested France than the Swiss faced. Onwards for the French who will fancy themselves against Nigeria in the next round and have the talent to be in with a chance of winning the trophy.

jickster