Sunday, 25th June
Not Impressive But Job Done
 England vs  Ecuador
in Stuttgart
Previous Encounters:
England and Ecuador haven't met in a competitive match before the 2006 World Cup Finals
although they did play a friendly in Quito, which England won (2:0), before England went
off to the 1970 World Cup Finals in Mexico.
The Match:
Ecuador have beaten Argentina and Brazil at altitude, so England will be looking to bring
them back down to earth.
It'll be a rollercoaster ride to get there, as a bad header by John
Terry allowed Carlos Tenorio to run through on Paul Robinson, in the 11th minute. Ashley
Cole managed to get across just in time; to deflect Tenorio's shot onto the bar and out
for a corner.
England fans increased the volume five minutes before half-time;
probably to stop themselves from falling asleep.
Half-time: (0:0)
England started brightly in the second-half.
Then just before the hour, as the England bench were getting ready for
a double substitution (Peter Crouch and Wayne Bridge were putting their shin pads in
place) England were given a free-kick; on the left side of the penalty area.
David Beckham took a while to get the ball sitting right, shook his
head and released a high, curling ball over the wall that dipped low and clipped the
inside of the post; to become the first Englishman to score in three different World Cup
Finals.
The waiting substitutes could settle back while the rest of the team
could relax for a moment; before searching out the second goal.
Although, by the look of the substitution, the England bench decided
holding the lead might be better.
Once again, not an impressive performance by England but a
workman-like job done.
Final Score:
England 1 -
Ecuador 0
 Goalscorers:
1:0 David Beckham (60)
Teams
England: (Captain David
Beckham/John Terry)
1 Paul Robinson; 3 Ashley Cole, 5 Rio Ferdinand, 6 John Terry,
16 Owen Hargreaves; 4 Steven Gerrard, 7 David Beckham, 8 Frank
Lampard, 11 Joe Cole, 18 Michael Carrick; 9 Wayne Rooney.
Ecuador: (Captain Ivan Hurtado)
12 Cristian Mora; 3 Ivan Hurtado, 4 Ulises De la Cruz, 17 Geovanny Espinoza, 18 Neicer
Reasco; 8 Edison Mendez, 14 Segundo Castillo, 16 Luis Valencia, 20 Edwin Tenorio; 11
Agustin Delgado, 21 Carlos Tenorio.
Referee: Frank De Bleeckere 
Substitutions:
69 Mins (Ecuador) - 7 Cristian Lara on for 20 Edwin Tenorio
71 Mins (Ecuador) - 10 Ivan Kaviedes on for 21 Carlos Tenorio
77 Mins (England) - 15 Jamie Carragher on for 11 Joe Cole
87 Mins (England) - 19 Aaron Lennon on for 7 David Beckham
92 Mins (England) - 20 Stewart Downing on for 4 Steven Gerrard
 6 Yellow
Cards:
18 Mins - John Terry (England)
24 Mins - Luis Valencia (Ecuador)
37 Mins - Carlos Tenorio (Ecuador)
67 Mins - Ulises De la Cruz (Ecuador)
78 Mins - Paul Robinson (England)
82 Mins - Jamie Carragher (England)
 0 Red Cards.
2006 World Cup Finals - Knockout Stage.
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