Just like in the other matches today, both teams started off aggressively.
France began attacking early on and the first few minutes were spent in Ecuador’s defensive half. There wasn’t much midfield play from Ecuador. Every time they managed to get past half field, it was due to a long ball in the air. Enner Valencia was even able to demonstrate his speed and athleticism a few times as he was able to successfully chase down and receive a couple of those through balls. The French had a lot of momentum throughout the first half and Ecuadoran players even faked some injuries early on to try and slow the game down for the French but it had little effect. The French continued to dominate the game. In the 37th minute Paul Pogba headed a corner kick which stressed the Ecuadoran goalkeeper and made him dive, but only ended as another corner. For a few minutes after that Ecuador pushed forward and now held control the ball in France’s defensive half. A cross in minute 40 found Enner Valencia who headed the ball downward but only for Lloris to go to the ground to make the save. France took control of the match for the rest of the first half but was unable to change the draw.
The second half saw more of the same French domination. Ecuador was unable to push forward for most of the match and the second half saw the South American team playing the most defensive soccer of the cup. Just after the beginning of the second half the French began to take chances on goal. Sagna took the ball down the right side of the pitch in the 46th minute and put a cross in for Antoine Griezmann. Griezmann attempted to finish first touch but the Ecuadoran keeper Alexander Dominguez was there to deny the Frenchman by swatting the ball upward, into the crossbar, and out for the defense to clear. Ecuador had more than enough to worry about but in the 50th minute the worries got worse when Antonio Valencia went in for a tackle with his studs exposed. The dangerous foul which made contact with Lucas Digne’s leg earned the Ecuadoran captain a direct red, and left the South Americans at an even bigger disadvantage. A few chances by the French soon followed but a tight Ecuadoran defense successfully blocked and deflected most of France’s chances on goal.
In the 72nd minute, Paul Pogba headed a ball ridiculously from a set piece, later Oliver Giroud headed the ball straight into Dominguez’s hands and finally Loic Remy failed to beat Dominguez after attempting to place the ball on the left side of the goal. There were plenty of chances by the French who were unable to break the equalizer. Even after this deadlock, the French cruise by the group stage after humiliating most of the group, ready to take on Nigeria in the round of 16.
Photo Credit: Jamie Squire/Getty Image
