Live Ticker: England 1 : 0 Ecuador

Welcome to live ticker coverage of the 2006 World Cup at dw-world.de. England versus Ecuador begins at 17.00 CEST.

A sell-out crowd of 52,000 are taking their places for this knock-out stage match between Group B winners England and Group A runners-up Ecuador.

England's starting eleven:
Robinson, Carrick, Ferdinand, Terry, A. Cole, Hargreaves, Beckham, Lampard, J. Cole, Gerrard, Rooney

Ecuador begin with:
Mora, de la Cruz, Hurtado, Espinoza, Reasco, Valencia, Castlillo, E. Tenorio, Mendez, Delgado, C. Tenorio

England come into the match as favorites, but their first round performances were middling, and they're without injured striker Michael Owen.

Ecuador were the big surprise of Group A and will try to pull off their biggest upset of the tournament against the Three Lions.

The referee is Frank de Bleeckere of Belgium.

It's sweltering in Stuttgart, which could be an advantage for the South Americans.

1. min.
And we're off!
Ecuador have first possession.

2. min.
Free-kick for England, but Ecuador are able to clear after some confusion in the box.

4. min.
A slow start to the match. No wonder with temperatures on the pitch estimated at 40 degrees Celsius.

6. min.
Free-kick for Ecuador, but absolutely no problem for the English defense.

8. min.
England are trying to find Rooney with long balls, while Ecuador haven't generated any real offensive pressure at all.

10. min.
C. Tenorio hits the bar after mistake by Terry! A. Cole got his foot on the ball at the last second.

11. min.
Is that a wake-up call for the sluggish Three Lions?

13. min.
Rooney with a nice run, but Espinoza tackles expertly.

16. min.
England's creative midfield looks decidedly uninspired. Ecuador's back four seem solid.

17. min.
Gerrard loops one over the goal.

Terry is booked for a high challenge against C. Tenorio.


19. min.
Free-kick by Mendez goes left of the England goal.

21. min.
England increase the pressure after a free-kick by Beckham.

22. min.
England corner, but Beckham finds only Ecuador's defense.

23. min.
Valencia sees yellow for hindering a free-kick.


25. min.
Ecuador seem content to keep England in check while looking for space to counter-attack.

26. min.
England with 60 percent of ball possession but no clear goal chances as yet.

27. min.
Mora easily saves shot by Lampard.

30. min.
Ecuador free-kick just left of the box but Mendez hits the wall.

33. min.
England trying to attack over J. Cole on the right, but Ecuador aren't budging.

35. min.
England free-kick from 25 meters. Beckham misses just left. Best chance for England thus far.

36. min.
C. Tenorio booked for foul on Terry.


38. min.
Choruses of Rule Britannia from the stands, as England supporters want their team to do more.

40. min.
Two-on-one in front of the Ecuador box. Rooney complains that Espinoza handled the ball, but the referee says play on.

43. min.
Miscommunication between Robinson and Ferdinand, but Ecuador can't exploit the corner-kick.

45. min.
Espinoza heads over the bar.

45. min.
First half score: 0-0.
+2 With all the energy both teams conserved, the second half can only get better.

46. min.
England first on the ball. They need to do more.

47. min.
No substitutions at the half, and no change in the tempo in the first two minutes.

49. min.
England's midfield remains lethargic - as though they're playing for a penalty shoot-out.

52. min.
Ecuador free-kick, but they, too, are content with long balls.

53. min.
Gerrard and Beckham trip themselves up in front of the box. Ecuador equally clumsy on the counter-attack.

55. min.
Ecuador corner drastically long, but the South Americans are now the more active side.

56. min.
England through ball, but two defenders block Rooney's path. The temperamental young striker looks increasingly frustrated.

59. min.
GOOOAAALLL!!! FOR ENGLAND
Beckham free-kick from 22 meters out. England captain silences critics by squeezing one between Mora and the left-hand post.

61. min.
Ecuador will have to step up their offensive efforts. But can they? Or will they open up space for England?

63. min.
Lampard rips a shot wide right.

64. min.
Misdirected passes in midfield are preventing anything resembling an Ecuador counter-attack.

65. min.
They're alive! Delgado draws a nice save from Robinson.

66. min.
De la Cruz for purposely handling the ball.


66. min.
Terrible cross by Gerrard, who's having an off day.

68. min.
Lara for E. Tenorio


70. min.
Lampard cross misses an open Rooney.

71. min.
Kaviedes for C. Tenorio
Top Ecuadoran striker with injured ankle.

72. min.
Rooner finds Lampard after a nice solo, but Lampard finds only the stands. He could have put the match away.

75. min.
Ecuador struggling to generate pressure after losing their top striker.

76. min.
Rooney more active now. Mora manages to save his deflected shot.

76. min.
Carragher for J. Cole
England with a defensive substitution. They'll try to hold their slim lead.

77. min.
Robinson cautioned for delay of game.


79. min.
Kaviedes tries his luck from way out but has none.

80. min.
Tens minutes left. Will Ecuador melt away in the heat, or can they make England wither?

82. min.
Carragher sees yellow for delay of game.


83. min.
Ecuador with nine men in England's half but no dice.

85. min.
Beckham clears in front of his own goal.

86. min.
Nice run by Reasco, but Valencia misses badly.

87. min.
Lennon for an exhausted Beckham


88. min.
Ecuador need a goal but aren't making any headway.

90. min.
England take their time with a corner.

90. min.
+1 England playing out the clock.

90. min.
Downing for Gerrard
+2

90. min.
+3 One last chance for Ecuador, but a foul hands possession back to England.

90. min.
That's it. England advance with a 1-nil win, while Ecuador are headed home.
+3 England's title dreams survive thanks to a David Beckham free-kick in a sluggish match against harmless underdogs Ecuador.