Germany’s final Group E game against Ecuador made a lightning start with both teams finding the net inside nine minutes at the New York New Jersey Stadium.
Leroy Sane opened the scoring with a clinical finish with less than two minutes played before Nilson Angulo’s long-range strike saw the stadium, made up an estimated 50,000 Ecuador fans, erupt as the South Americans’ hopes of reaching the knockout stages were given new life.
It took Germany just two minutes to open the scoring – but Sane’s goal arguably should not have stood.
Liverpool playermaker Florian Wirtz put it on a plate for Sane to wrap it home inside the box with the ruthless finish to put the Germans on their way to maximum points in Group E.
But Ecuador, who need a win to reach the round of 32, were left incensed that the goal was not ruled out for a high poot by Aleksander Pavlovic in the build-up.
The midfielder’s foot went high to win the ball ahead of Pedro Vite, seemingly catching the defender on his way to doing so.
But just when it looked like Ecuador – who realistically need a win to progress – were in for a long afternoon, La Tri finally opened their account at the tournament through a wonderful strike from Sunderland’s Angulo.
The winger caught goalkeeper Manuel Neuer out with a nice strike from distance which firmly put Ecuador well in the race for the round of 32, but they are still heading out as it stands.
Angulo is the fourth Sunderland goalscorer at the tournament after Granit Xhaka, Brian Brobbey and Wilson Isidor, only Paris Saint-Germain (six) have had more of their players find the net so far.
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Where to watch Ecuador v Germany: TV channel, live online streams
Kick-off on Thursday is at 21:00 BST (18:00 ET / 15:00 PT). In the UK, live coverage is on BBC One.
Streaming on a vast range of devices is available through the BBC iPlayer app and BBC Sport website.
World Cup 2026: Ecuador v Germany stats
- Ecuador started the finals as one of four nations with an even goal difference in World Cup history, alongside Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ireland and East Germany
- This is Ecuador’s fifth participation at a World Cup. The only time they reached the knockout stage was in 2006, when they were eliminated by England in the last 16
- Ecuador finished second behind Argentina in the CONMEBOL qualifiers, equalling their best-ever performance in such a campaign for the tournament (also 2002)
- They had the strongest defense in the section, conceding five goals across 18 matches, and lost the fewest games (2 away defeats, against Argentina and Brazil)
- Valencia scored three goals each at the 2014 and 2022 finals and was involved in more than half of Ecuador’s goals in qualifying, scoring six and assisting two
- Sebastian Beccacece is the fifth individual to lead Ecuador at a World Cup; with three Colombians and two Argentineans, including Beccacece
- Germany will enter the knockout stage for the first time since winning the World Cup 12 years ago
- They recovered from a 2-0 defeat in Slovakia in their opening qualifier for this edition – a first-ever World Cup qualifying away loss – to win all of their remaining matches in the campaign, signing off with a 6-0 home win over The Falcons
- Die Mannschaft won the tournament in 1954, 1974, 1990 and 2014 but were knocked out by Bulgaria in the last eight when it was held in the US 32 years ago
- Manuel Neuer was part of the 2014 triumph and has 126 caps. Before these finals, the goalkeeper’s last appearance for his country had been in a EURO 2024 quarter-final defeat by Spain
- This is Julian Nagelsmann’s first World Cup as head coach. At 38, he is the youngest boss to take charge of a team at the 2026 tournament, with the last head coach to win the World Cup in his 30s being Cesar Luis Menotti with Argentina in 1978 (39)
Ecuador team news
Ecuador XI: Galindez, Hincapie, Ordonez, Pacho, Vite, Franco, Caicedo, Yeboah, Valencia, Plata, Angulo
Ecuador subs: Ramirez, Valle, Torres, Estupinan, Preciado, Porozo, Medina, Alcivar, Valencia, Paez, Minda, Castillo, Rodriguez, Caicedo, Arevalo
Germany team news
Germany defender Nico Schlotterbeck is out of the finals after damaging a ligament in his left ankle against Ivory Coast.
Deniz Undav has scored three times from the bench and is named on the bench once again, with Havertz leading the line.
Germany XI: Neuer, Rudiger, Tah, Kimmich, Raum, Pavlovic, Nmecha, Musiala, Wirtz, Sane, Havertz
Germany subs: Baumann, Nübel, Anton, Thiaw, Goretzka, Leweling, Gross, Stiller, Amiri, Ouedraogo, Woltemade, Beier, Undav
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