New Jersey [US], June 26 (ANI): Four-time champions Germany’s shock 2-1 loss to Ecuador uncovered one of many workforce’s lingering points within the event, as they’ve did not preserve a clear sheet of their previous 9 video games on the grandest stage.
Ecuador sealed their title within the spherical of 32 regardless of a fiery begin from Germany, with Leroy Sane scoring inside 1:49 minutes. The South American nation got here again from behind, defeating an already certified Germany for a large morale-boosting win.
As per Opta Analyst, Germany has failed to keep up a clear sheet in its final 9 FIFA World Cup matches, which is their joint-longest such streak from the 1934 to 1954 version. Their final shutout got here through the 2014 ultimate in opposition to Argentina.
40-year-old Manuel Neuer, who took again worldwide retirement to characteristic within the event and had been placing in distinctive performances for Bayern Munich on the membership stage, has not been in a position to make the impression anticipated from him as a first-choice goalie.
Ecuador made World Cup historical past by handing Germany a shock of their ultimate Group E matchup on June 25, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. This marked the primary time a South American nation defeated Germany in a FIFA World Cup group-stage match.
Since the beginning of the 1998 FIFA World Cup, that is solely the second time Germany has been defeated in a WC sport after opening the scoring (having received 25 and drawn the opposite two), following a 1-2 loss to Japan within the 2022 version.
As per Opta Analyst, with a mean age of 28 years and 242 days, Germany’s beginning line-up is their oldest beginning line-up for the reason that 1998 quarter-final in opposition to Croatia (30 years and 170 days).
The already-qualified Germany made a blistering begin, scoring with their first shot on course to take an early lead, with Sane ending off a cross from Florian Wirtz. Positioned centrally contained in the field, Sane calmly slotted the ball previous diving Ecuador goalkeeper Hernan Galindez, putting his effort into the bottom-left nook after assembly the supply from the left.
Ecuador instantly appealed for a foul within the build-up, arguing that Germany’s Aleksandar Pavlovic had raised a excessive boot on Pedro Vite, with replays indicating contact with the Ecuadorian midfielder’s head earlier than Sane transformed the cross from Wirtz.
Notably, the objective was the second-fastest in Germany’s FIFA World Cup historical past, arriving in simply the 1.forty ninth minute, as per OptaJoe’s X deal with.
Despite conceding an early lead, Ecuador refused to be shaken. Barely settled after the setback, they fought their means again into the competition with depth and perception, urgent increased and forcing errors in Germany’s buildup play. The response got here within the ninth minute when Nilson Angulo seized on a unfastened ball in midfield and unleashed a fearless long-range strike that flew past Manuel Neuer to stage the rating.
The rating remained 1-1 within the first half, with Ecuador gaining confidence as they matched Germany’s tempo and broke their rhythm by robust urgent and fast counter-attacks.
The decisive second arrived within the 77th minute. From a right-sided nook, Kevin Rodriguez received a vital aerial duel, flicking the ball throughout the objective. Gonzalo Plata reacted instinctively, darting in forward of the defence to poke residence from shut vary. The objective sparked wild celebrations, with Ecuador’s bench and followers erupting in disbelief and pleasure.
From there, the South Americans had been compelled right into a tense defensive stand. Germany threw the whole lot ahead, however Ecuador held agency by sheer willpower.
Even deep into stoppage time, when Germany swarmed ahead looking for an equaliser, Ecuador refused to interrupt. After seven minutes of added time, Ecuador secured a well-known 2-1 victory, one outlined by a dramatic fightback that carried them into the knockout stage.
It marked solely the second time of their historical past that Ecuador had progressed from a World Cup group stage, matching their achievement from 2006. (ANI)