Ecuador has fired national coach Felix Sanchez following the country’s Copa America quarter-final defeat to Argentina on Thursday, the country’s football federation (FEF) said in a statement.
Ecuador reached the last eight for the third time in the last four editions, but were knocked out on penalties by the reigning champions after the match ended 1-1.
Lionel Messi missed Argentina’s first penalty, but was given a reprieve by goalkeeper Emi Martínez, who saved Ecuador’s first two attempts. Lisandro Martínez had put Argentina ahead 10 minutes before half-time, but Kevin Rodríguez equalised with a superb header in injury time late in the second half. Ecuador’s captain Enner Valencia had earlier hit the post from the penalty spot after a handball from Rodrigo De Paul.
Ecuador had struggled through the group stage, collapsing from a 1-0 lead to lose 2-1 to Venezuela in their opening match of the tournament. If it hadn’t been for a reversed penalty in their final group stage match against Mexico, they would likely have been sent home before the knockout round.
Sánchez, who led Qatar to their first Asian Cup title in 2019, signed a four-year contract in March last year.
“We thank Felix and his coaching staff for their work and professionalism, and wish him success in his future endeavours,” the FEF said.
The 48-year-old coach said after the match that Ecuador had been eliminated from the Copa América but that he was looking forward to the World Cup qualifiers in September, where Ecuador are fifth in the rankings. He did not want to discuss his future.
“We managed to go from the group stage to the knockouts. I congratulated the players even though we didn’t advance,” Sánchez told reporters. “I think they deserve the credit, that’s my opinion, but I think that in the next edition of this tournament we will be here with a more experienced team.
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“These are very young players. Maybe the results were unfair, but I know we have to believe in this group of players.”
Argentina will now play the semi-final against either Canada or Venezuela on July 9.