Ecuador carry themselves with a quiet menace here — Caicedo pulling the strings in midfield like a conductor who knows exactly when to quicken the tempo, and Ivory Coast's defence looks vulnerable enough to be exposed by a side with this much structure. I walked through the Nasher Sculpture Center in Dallas yesterday and stood before a Rodin — all tension and coiled force — which is precisely how Hincapié plays, and Ecuador have that same sense of controlled aggression at the back that frees their forward play. Ivory Coast have the flair of Amad Diallo to ignite something, perhaps one brilliant moment, but Ecuador's organisation suffocates creativity the way a closed gallery suffocates light — and I see *La Tri* leaving Dallas with three points.

Ecuador's defensive spine — Hincapié marshalling from sweeper and Pacho alongside him — is genuinely one of the most composed South American backlines at this tournament, and I think it suffocates Ivory Coast's forward thrust for long stretches in Dallas. The midfield battle is where this gets fascinating though: Caicedo's engine against Kessié's physicality is the kind of chess match that ends up cancelling itself out and actually opens space for set-piece moments rather than open play. Fofana will need a big night in goal because Ecuador generate attacks with real purpose and rhythm, and I think a well-taken Ecuadorian goal gets pegged back late by Adingra's quick feet — a draw feels honest here. Oh, and I attempted the kolache from Dallas's Czech-Texan tradition last night — the dough was perfect but I overcorrected on the sweetness of the apricot filling, so perhaps I should let the football do the talking today.