Pacho's promise as Ecuador face Advocaat and a must-win

Win or go home

That is the math. Ecuador face Curaçao on Saturday in their second Group E match, and anything less than three points leaves you staring at elimination (1) (3). The 1–0 loss to Ivory Coast, decided by Diallo's 90th-minute goal, snapped a 19-game unbeaten run and put your team bottom of the group. Pacho did not sugarcoat it: "We're going to leave our lives out there" (3). Beccacece called the Ivory Coast defeat unfair, but there is no room for grievance now. Only a result.

Advocaat in full showman mode

Dick Advocaat owned the press room on Friday. The 78-year-old Curaçao manager cracked the room up when asked if he could coach at the next World Cup: "Then I'd be dead" (2). On the scale of the task facing his side: "It's unprecedented that we're here" (2). He also acknowledged the gulf honestly: "It can happen any match, but of course it's very difficult to achieve something" (1). Advocaat loose and laughing is a dangerous animal, he has been in a thousand must-win games and knows exactly how to set up a low block that frustrates.

The sin-bin stings but cannot linger

Your midfielder made unwanted history against Ivory Coast, the first player sin-binned under the new rule. The camp was furious about it. But Saturday is not about VAR grievances. Ecuador put up 12 shots in that opener and created enough to win (3). The finishing needs to be sharper, and Curaçao will not offer many chances. Beccacece has had days to reset the mood. This is the game where your World Cup starts for real.