PHILADELPHIA (AP) — South American team gets off to a disappointing start. world cupfailed to produce a win in three games.
Ecuador lost to Ivory Coast Sunday’s game against Philadelphia was 1-0. brazil drew Saturday’s match against Morocco was 1-1. Paraguay was defeated 4-1 by tournament co-host United States.
Coaches’ comments following the disappointing result were in a similar vein.
Ecuador’s coach Sebastian Beccacese called it a “very difficult situation.” Paraguay coach Gustavo Alfaro called his team’s loss “a very painful lesson.”
Manager Carlo Ancelotti said five-time World Cup winners Brazil cannot afford to lose heart, saying: “You can’t win a World Cup just in the first game.”
Uruguay play their first match against Saudi Arabia on Monday, followed by defending champions Argentina against Algeria on Tuesday and Colombia against Uzbekistan on Wednesday.
South America has a proud soccer tradition and is the only continent outside of Europe to have produced a World Cup winner.
The slow start to the tournament in some South American countries contrasts with strong opening performances by North American teams on their home soil.
“The United States won this game very clearly and fairly,” Alfaro said after Paraguay’s first-round loss. “They were tactically, technically and physically dominant. They have an answer for everything you throw at them.”
In addition to the American victory, World Cup begins in Mexico 2-0 victory over South Africa Canada scores first World Cup point After a 1-1 draw with Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Ecuador, aiming to reach the finals for the second time in its fifth World Cup appearance, was playing a virtual home game at Philadelphia Stadium, with most of the sold-out crowd of 68,274 wearing the team’s yellow jerseys.
However, it was La Tri’s first loss since losing 1-0 to Brazil in September 2024, ending their 19-game unbeaten streak.
“We are very disappointed that we were not able to provide the joy that our fans have been looking for,” Beckases said. “It was an unfair defeat that unfolded in a great stadium atmosphere. We have to deal with it, forget what happened, focus on what lies ahead and keep the faith.”
Ecuador’s captain Enel Valencia said there was still hope for his team despite the loss.
“We are working with pride knowing that this is just the beginning, and we still have a tournament ahead of us,” he said.
After the match, Ecuadorian goalkeeper Hernán Galíndez spoke about the unpredictability of the World Cup opener and how it should not necessarily be an indicator of the final outcome of the tournament.
“In the last World Cup, we won the first match and then lost,” he said. “In the last World Cup, Argentina lost the first game and won the World Cup, so nothing is guaranteed.”
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AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/fifa-world-cup
