Germany head into their final Group E fixture of the 2026 FIFA World Cup with momentum firmly on their side as they prepare to face Ecuador at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Thursday.
Germany made a statement in their tournament opener by dismantling Curaçao 7-1 in one of the most dominant performances of the competition so far. They followed that up with a hard-fought 2-1 comeback victory against Ivory Coast, recovering from a goal down in the final half-hour to secure all three points and seal their place in the Round of 32.
For Ecuador, the situation is considerably more complicated. La Tricolor entered the tournament with hopes of challenging for a knockout-place finish but have managed just one point from their opening two matches.
Their campaign began with a difficult encounter against Ivory Coast before another frustrating result against Curaçao left them facing an uphill battle heading into their final group game.
Team News
It is anticipated that Nagelsmann will freshen up his starting lineup, with goalkeeper Oliver Baumann pushing to start along with left-back David Raum and midfield trio Leon Goretzka, Angelo Stillar and Nadiem Amiri.
As for Ecuador, they have no fitness or injury concerns to report, and Beccacece is not expected to make drastic changes to his lineup despite overseeing a winless start to the World Cup.
Possible Lineups
Ecuador possible starting lineup:
Galindez; Ordonez, Pacho, Hincapie; Yeboah, Franco, Caicedo, Vite, Estupinan; Plata, Valencia
Germany possible starting lineup:
Baumann; Anton, Tah, Rudiger, Raum; Goretzka, Stiller; Leweling, Amiri, Beier; Undav
How to Watch
| Platform | Details |
|---|---|
| TV Broadcast | SuperSport |
| Live Stream | DSTV stream |
| Kick-off Time | 21:00 (WAT) |
Match predictions
Softfootball predicts Ecuador 0-2 Germany
