Liveblog: England vs. Ecuador

It wasn’t a dominant or impressive performance, but once again England got the job done beating an Ecuador team that appeared to just be happy to make it to the second round. You can read the play-by-play below and leave your thoughts on the match.

Final: England 1-0 Ecuador

Full time That is it from Stuttgart where England comes away with a one-goal win. The two teams played a largely even match the first half but in the second half England controlled the tempo. It took a goal from David Beckhan to send England through to the round of 16 where they will face the winner of today’s Portugal-Netherlands match. Thanks for joining me and for your comments. I’ll see you again soon.

89:34 England looking more and more likely to come away with another unimpressive win. Ecuador played them straight up in the first half but since the Beckham goal it has been almost all England.

88:23 Players have to dodge the little treat that Becks left on the field. Ecuador having trouble getting the ball. England happy to play keep away.

86:59 Close up of Beckham emptying his stomach. That one will go on the fashion magazines. Lennon coming on so Beckham can barf in peace.

85:37 Robinso will live. Beckham will live. Will Ecuador live to see another game? Not much time left for them to do it.

84:34 Ecuador with another disappointing effort. Paul Robinson hurt and lying on his belly in pain. He grabs his left leg. Beckham still tossing chunks. This is getting ugly and the only thing worse is seeing the players wives eating ice cream.

82:34 Both teams looking tired in the head. Carragher given a yellow for stalling. The clock is not ticking quickly enough.

81:21 Sven with his legs crossed and an utterly bored expression on the bench. It is good to be king.

79:57 Ecuador looking like a defeated team. Someone needs to show them the scoreboard and explain that all they need is one goal. Beckham dry heaving again. He is hurting out there. Too much partying and not enough training. Oh wait, that is me.

78:33 Mendez with a shot from the top of the box but you knew before he hit it that it wasn’t going in. Robinson shown a yellow for wasting time. He was just having fun with the roundest ball.

76:59 England hasn’t shown much offense this tournament but defensively they have been quite good. Joe Cole comes off and Jamie Carragher is on. One less Brazilian on the field for England.

75:12 Public service announcement: We are liveblogging every stinkin’ game in this tournament so come back and join us starting later on for Portugal-Netherlands. I might still be stuck in this seat the way I am sweating.

74:28 Ecuador not showing much this half and not looking like a team that needs a goal to stay alive.

72:57 Lampard has a sitter in front of the goal after Rooney sets him up but Frankie hits it all the way to Munich.

71:45 Tenorio with a nasty ankle turn. Iván Kaviedes is in fact in as Ecuador hopes to get an equalizer in the next 20 minutes.

70:12 Carlos Tenorio also likely to come out as he is injured off the pitch. Perhaps it is time for Ecuador to play Iván Kaviedes, the man with the mask.

69:02 Right now the fact that Ecuador’s players have been abstinent and England’s have not is not proving to be an advantage. Heat or no heat. Jamie Carragher likely to come on for England soon. Lara on for E. Tenorio for Ecuador.

67:18 De la Cruz shown a yellow for trying to reach up and grab the ball. They should allow players to carry the ball in their hands. Just kidding. Crouch was warming up but it appears the goal has put him back on the bench.

65:46 Beckham looked to be dry heaving on the pitch. I can relate with this heat and beer. Ecuador with a shot and Robinson hits it out for a corner.

64:35 England looking very content to let Ecuador move down the field and then kick it out of bounds like they have done all game.

62:34 England increasingly coming to rely on the right foot of Beckham on free kicks. They haven’t done much offensively in this tournament but continue to get the results. Still time from Ecuador to come back but they face a tough challenge.

61:02 Ecuador trying to come back after the Beckham goal. Mora got a finger on it but he bent it right near the post and that is enough to get his wife to show her bouncing chest in the stands.

59:02 GOALLLLLL!!! Beckham on the free kick drills it from outside the box and its bends in by the post.

58:13 England insisting that the long balls to Rooney are the way to go. Reality showing otherwise. Ecuador also having trouble mustering much.

57:15 Rooney crunched in the box by two Ecuador defenders like a bull in a China shop. Rooney gets up and yells something unpleasant. Good no call.

55:23 Corner kick to Ecuador. Mendez takes it and it is long and ugly.

53:49 England dinks around and Ecuador looks to counter but their crosses are horrible. This one is turning out to be less than wonderful. Still time for that to change.

51:34 De la Cruz down for a few rolls on the ground but he is not really hurt. McClaren explaining the strategy of football to Sven on the bench. Either that or they are doing a crossword puzzle together.

50:23 England could use a player like Lennon to come in and bring some pace to the game. Neither coach sweating despite being grossly overdressed for this game.

49:12 Rooney breaks through but his first touch looks like someone who hasn’t played very much. England corner is cleared and we are back to the muddle.

47:47 Mendez with a long shot that is knocked down. Rooney voices his displeasure at the linesman. He certainly has a little temper that Wayne.

46:12 No changes for either side and, yes, it is still me liveblogging although there might be a late game sub if I pass out. This one looks like it will be the first team to score will win. But I am usually wrong about these things.

45:01 We are back underway from Stuttgart where England and Ecuador will play another 45 minutes to determine who will be in the quarter-finals and who will be headed home. Thanks for stopping by and taking part in the fun. Your comments and thoughts are quite welcome. Here’s to a good second half and/or a sudden cold front to move through Berlin.

Halftime: A rugged first half with more fouls than attractive play. Ecuador continues to hold tough against an England team that just hasn’t hit their stride. I’m going to go hose myself down with ice water. I’ll be back at the start of the second half. You can go right ahead and leave your thoughts on the first half.

45+ Ecuador corner kick and Espinoze hits it high with his head. Two minutes of added time.

44:23 Hargreaves takes a crack on his leg from Delgado and he is down by the corner flag in exteme pain. Robinso hits Ferdinand in the back of the head. Hargreaves getting in the way of the corner kick. This is turning into a strange sequence of events.

42:34 Rooney to this point has looked a lot like Michael Owen. That isn’t a compliment. He is trying hard though but just seems off his game.

41:21 De la Cruz having a solid game for Ecuador in the back. It seems like we get 30 seconds of play for every 15 seconds of fouls. Wow, what an ugly face from Rooney. The nightmares I will have tonight after seeing him scream.

39:46 The wave breaks out in the stands and the crowd seems to have more energy than the players. Every time I look up Beckham seems to be over the ball for a free kick. Lots of fouls being called by the Belgian referee.

38:35 Wouldn’t be accurate to describe this game as a thing of beauty but it has had its moments. Neither side looking like they are going to break through anytime soon.

37:02 I feel like I soaked my hands in juice before the match. This one better not go 120 minutes or there might be ling term damage. Carlos Tenorio show a yellow card for kicking Terry as the crowd asks us all to have God save the queen.

35:08 Lampard had his belly hit the pitch and England gets a free kick. Crouch sighting on the sideline. He is laughing, stretching and possibly roboting. Beckham with the free kick from straight on. It goes wide.

33:29 Ecuador coach Suarez looking like a million bucks in a suit on the sideline. How is he not sweating?

32:32 Joe Cole sure does spend time on the ground. The Brazilian of England. Meanwhile John Terry just taught me a new swear word. Corner kick to Ecuador but it amounts to nada.

30:12 Owen Hargeaves giving hope to Canadians and bad football players everywhere. He gives up a free kick to Ecuador on the side of the area. Mendez hits it in and it bounces right back.

29:34 Crowd doing their best to pretend they are in a library. Both teams going through the motions. Not the sharpest game but still even. I think I will continue watching.

27:45 Lampard with a shot on the ground and Mora makes the save. In the process he shows off the flag painted on his face and makes me feel old.

26:47 You would think that based on pedigree England would control this game but Ecuador is hanging in there and taking their chances. Ecuador has some strong, physical players. Kind of defying some stereotypes about teams from South America.

25:36 Players falling over like a forest being clearcut. They might just be wilting in the heat although if they would avoid killing each other they might not be in such pain. The other Tenorio guys off for a bit but he’ll be back.

24:02 I knocked Ecuador’s kits a few months ago but they have grown on me. Valencia shown a yellow card for a reason only known to him and the referee.

22:32 Corner kick to England from the right side. Beckham takes it but it is cleared away as Ecuador continues to hang in there against the favored side from England.

20:36 Beckham lines up a free kick. His hair is still perfectly in place. The blue boots are very blue. Dangerous moment for Ecuador and teenage girls alike. It is swung wide but Ecuador clears it.

19:49 Free kick to Ecuador from long range. It sneaks through the wall and is almost redirected but goes wide.

18:47 Gerrard takes a crack and it is well high. On the other end Terry assualts Tenorio with a high boot. He is shown a yellow for a dangerous play. Carlos Tenorio receiving some magic water. The other Tenorio not so lucky.

17:21 England strategy seems to be to pass it around and then throw it long to Rooney. Not too convinced that is going to take them to the promised land.

15:37 The skin on my fingers are peeling off with each touch of a keystroke. It is hot, sticky and stinky here. I bet you are jealous I am in Germany for the World Cup. Both teams passing it around a bit. Nice start to the game.

14:23 Sven looking like he should work at Ikea instead of be on the England bench. Rooney dispossessed by Espinoza in the box. Excellent bit of defending.

13:24 Free kick by Ecuador goes in on goal but is blown offside. Ecuador with a lot of life the past couple of minutes. The first goal might be crucial in this match.

11:43 Nice play by Ashley Cole to hustle back and deflect the shot. Saved his team a goal.

11:32 Carlos Tenorio takes a Tery mistake and he drills it off of Ashley Cole and it hits the bar. That was very. very close.

9:47 Beckham plays a long ball as England trying to find Rooney alone up top. Ecuador a bit more patient in the attack, rolling it around by not necessarily with much success.

8:35 Paul Robinson boots it from his goal all the way through to the other end. A bit too overeager but he hasn’t seen much action this World Cup so who can blame him for being excited to give it a kick. Still a bit sloppy out there.

6:56 Ecuador with two players named Tenorio which is a liveblogging nightmare. Not that they thought about that when they put together their lineup.

5:56 Carrick plays a through ball to Rooney who can’t run it down. England with the possession so far but no close opportunities.

4:45England looking stronger on the ball in the midfield. Through ball to Rooney is too long and he can’t get his metatarsal on it.

3:12 Neither team suffering from heat stroke quite yet. The sun has gone behind a cloud and all can rejoice. Offside to Ecuador. Choppy start thus far.

1:56 German commentator Fritz von und under Taxis calling this game. He is my personal favorite. Cole knocked down and England with the free kick. Beckham swings it in and it is cleared away.

0:34 Ecuador playing with little to lose. The pressure all on the favorite England. We will see how both teams respond. Early foul against Ecuador.

Kickoff: We’re underway in Stuttgart with England taking on Ecuador in a knockout stage clash. Thanks for joining me today. Your comments are appreciated. Keep them clean, have fun and love one another. I hope that we all are treated to a wonderful World Cup match.

3 minute countdown: Ecuador’s anthem is happy and upbeat in sound. A fair amount of fans wearing yellow and blue. The players sing with their hands over their hearts. What a proud moment for the small South American country.

5 minute countdown: The two teams are out on the sun drenched pitch and there is a roar from the crowd. The kids escorting the players are smiling ear-to-ear, even the one next to that scary Wayne Rooney. England national anthem first. Some sing, some don’t. All in the stands show their windpipes.

7 minute countdown: Lots of England flags in Stuttgart as most of the fans made it to the stadium without getting arrested. The players are lined up in the tunnel and Ecuador is indeed wearing yellow shirts with blue shorts. England in white tops and blue shorts. Neither team paying much attention to the other.

10 minute countdown: Boris Becker is interviewing Gary Lineker in English. Things are getting a bit surreal. The heat is making everyone daffy. Lineker saying that England will be ready and will deal with the heat. He predicts one of England’s midfielders will score. Considering Rooney is playing as a lone forward that is far from a bold prediction. He says England 2-0.

15 minute countdown: It is almost too hot for beer. Almost. Today I will go with a lager. German television showing Sven and playing creepy Twighlight Zone music in the background. I think that is supposed to mean that he is a mysterious Swede who keeps making interesting lineup changes. Almost artsy in a sports pregame show kind of way. Today’s Sven mysterious move is to start Michael Carrick. Will it work? We shall see.

20 minute countdown: England has yet to play dazzling football but they have gotten the job done. England’s defense has been steady in the World Cup with keeper Paul Robinson has only been asked to make five saves in three games for England, while letting in two goals. Ecuador keeper Christian Mora has been slightly busier, making ten saves while allowing three goals. Mora also has had a painted Ecuador flag on his cheek. By the way, Gerrard is starting. Ignore my previous babble.

25 minute countdown: The referee today is from Belgium so if you are a fan of either team please develop your Belgium hates my country conspiracy theory now or forever hold your peace. The stadium in Stuttgart looks sun splashed with a brief shadow on one sideline. If I were a betting man I would say that this game will not be cancelled due to snow. Looks like Ecuador is in their yellow kits and England in their white but I’m not 100% certain. Will try to confirm.

30 minute countdown: Here are the names of the 22 men in shorts who will entertain you at the start of the game. England has switched formations again with the loss of Michael Owen to injury. Ecuador is back to the team that earned them two wins to start the World Cup. My legs are twitching from excitement and/or heat stroke.

England
1. Paul Robinson, 3. Ashley Cole, 4. Steve Gerrard 5. Rio Ferdinand, 6. John Terry, 7. David Beckham, 8. Frank Lampard, 9. Wayne Rooney, 11. Joe Cole, 16. Owen Lee Hargreaves, 18. Michael Carrick

Ecuador
12. Cristian Mora, 3. Iván Hurtado, 4. Ulises De La Cruz, 8. Edison Méndez, 11. Agustín Delgado, 14. Segundo Castillo, 16. Luis Valencia, 17. Geovanny Espinoza, 18. Néicer Reasco, 20. Edwin Tenorio, 21. Carlos Tenorio

40 minute countdown: England and Ecuador are hardly familiar with one another. Both countries field teams that are drawn almost exclusively from their domestic leagues. On paper England has to be considered the strong favorite, but Ecuador has shown that it is a very capable team even playing away from the thin air of Quito. Starting lineups headed your way next.

50 minute countdown: It is a balmy 30+C/90+F day in Stuttgart where England and Ecuador will meet in the second round of the World Cup. The victor advances to face the winner of the Netherlands/Portugal match later today. The loser heads home It is probably about 20 degrees hotter here in the World Cup Blog HQ in Berlin. My fingers are already sticking to the keyboard but I am excited for this game. Starting lineups and other stuff coming up soon.

Pregame: Who do you think will win?