South América’s qualifiers delivered the usual headlines—Argentina on top, Brazil stumbling, Bolivia euphoric—but the quiet revelation is Ecuador. Ecuador instead tracked down the deficit by playing the second-best football in South América. Four points taken from Uruguay, four more from Colombia, and defeats only away to Argentina and Brazil told the tale. Against Brazil, Ecuador compressed the middle third into a vise and neutralized flair with geometry. Instead of detouring through Argentina or Brazil, talents leap directly to Europe, return seasoned, and anchor the national team.