Undav's dream run meets Ecuador test
Ecuador tonight, the group is already won
Top of the group, nothing to play for on paper. Germany face Ecuador in the final Group E match Thursday, with knockout stage qualification already sealed after the stoppage-time 2–1 win over Ivory Coast (1) (4). Julian Nagelsmann can rotate, and probably will. Nadiem Amiri could get a start, and the big question is whether Deniz Undav gets promoted from his super-sub role (4).
Undav: 'It's like a dream'
Undav is in dreamland. Three goals and two assists, all off the bench, equalling a World Cup record for goal involvements by a substitute (2). "It's like a dream. It's not real," Undav said ahead of the Ecuador match (2). Nagelsmann has a genuine decision now, start the man who cannot stop scoring, or keep him as the weapon from the bench (4).
Schlotterbeck injury clouds the knockout path
The biggest worry is at the back. Nico Schlotterbeck is feared to have torn an ankle ligament against Ivory Coast, an MRI will confirm, but if that diagnosis holds, his World Cup is over (4). Manuel Neuer remains a doubt too (4). Against Ecuador, Germany could rotate in the back line, with Nathanel Brown among those who could feature (4).
Klopp quiet, Goretzka unlucky so far
Not everyone has caught fire. Source (3) flags players on the fringes who haven't had the tournament they wanted, Leon Goretzka hasn't got the minutes, and Jürgen Klopp's World Cup has been a quiet one so far. With top spot secure and rotation expected tonight, some of those players could get a chance to change the narrative (3).
Prediction: a tight one
A 1–0 prediction from FourFourTwo (4). Ecuador need a result to be sure of progressing, and their back line has Bundesliga pedigree, Piero Hincapié (Leverkusen) and Willian Pacho (PSG, ex-Frankfurt) know German football inside out (4). Teenager Kendry Páez is the one to watch (4). Your team goes in with nothing at stake but momentum.
Fan reactions
The Deniz Undav stat has broken Reddit. One fan posted that every goal Germany have scored with Undav on the pitch was either scored or assisted by him, and the thread lit up. Nobody can quite believe the numbers. The mood ahead of Ecuador is relaxed but expectant: top of the group, the super-sub. Read more on r/soccer.
Sources
- 1. fussballnationalmannschaft.net — Wann spielt Deutschland wieder? DFB-Termine bei der WM 2026: heute gegen Ecuador und der K.o.-Fahrplan
- 2. fussballnationalmannschaft.net — Vor Deutschland gegen Ecuador: Undav bleibt trotz WM-Hype gelassen
- 3. n-tv.de — DFB-Verlierer der Vorrunde: Klopp tritt kurz aus dem Schatten, Goretzka hat Pech
- 4. fourfourtwo.com — Germany vs Ecuador prediction: Can Die Mannschaft win three out of three group games?