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Ecuador was the biggest surprise in Group E, defeating Germany 2-1 this Thursday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford. This result concluded a group stage with a clear classification: the Germans advance as first, Côte d'Ivoire as second, and La Tri as the best third-place team provisionally, while Curaçao is eliminated.
The left Germany and Ivory Coast tied on 6 points, with goal difference as the deciding factor: +6 for the Europeans and +2 for the Ivorians. Ecuador accumulated 4 points with a neutral goal difference, while Curacao finished with just one point and -8 in their historic debut at a World Cup.
How the group was decided
In the most notable match of the day, Leroy Sané put Germany ahead in just the second minute, but Ecuador responded immediately: Nilson Angulo equalized in the ninth with a shot from outside the box assisted by Pedro Vite, and Gonzalo Plata sealed the victory in the 77th minute, achieving a historic win. It was the first time Ecuador defeated Germany, breaking a streak that included losses of 4-2 in 2013 and 3-0 in the 2006 World Cup.
In the other simultaneous match, Ivory Coast had no trouble against Curacao: Nicolas Pépé scored twice in the seventh and 64th minutes, with an assist from Yan Diomandé on the first goal, for a final score of 2-0 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
The journey to this point
The group had kicked off on June 14 with a historic rout of Germany over Curacao (7-1) in Houston, during which Ivory Coast defeated Ecuador 1-0 thanks to a goal from Amad Diallo in the 90th minute. In the second round, Germany came back to win 2-1 against Ivory Coast with a brace from Deniz Undav, securing their qualification mathematically, while Ecuador could only manage a 0-0 draw against Curacao despite generating 29 shots, complicating their chances of advancement.
Who comes and who goes
Germany, as the top team in the group, will play its round of 16 match on June 29 at Gillette Stadium in Boston against the best third-placed team from groups A, B, C, D, or F. Ivory Coast also advances directly to that round. Ecuador qualifies provisionally as the best third-placed team in Group E; its final passage depends on the results of the other groups and, if confirmed, could face Mexico in the round of 16.
Curaçao, a complete debutante in World Cups, finishes its participation with one point, eight goals conceded, and the memory of scoring its first World Cup goal through Livano Comenencia against Germany on the opening day.
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