East Rutherford (United States) (AFP) – Ecuador squeezed into the last 32 of the World Cup with an upset 2-1 victory over Germany on Thursday, as Ivory Coast ended Curacao’s fairytale campaign to seal their passage to the knockout rounds. A nailbiting Group E game between Ecuador and group winners Germany at the MetLife Stadium was settled 13 minutes from time, when Gonzalo Plata jabbed home the winning goal from close range for the South Americans. Plata’s winner came after Ecuador had recovered from Germany taking the lead with a controversial Leroy Sane goal after two minutes, before equalising through Nilson Angulo. The result means Ecuador finished Group E with four points, guaranteeing them a place in the last 32 as one of the eight best third-placed teams.
“The significance of this is not for me, it is for the people,” Ecuador coach Sebastian Beccacece said after the win. “The players gave a huge happiness to the people. We have to enjoy it and celebrate, please,” the Argentine coach added. Germany had already been assured of winning the group after wins over Ivory Coast and Curacao, but coach Julian Nagelsmann was left dismayed at what he described as “tactical suicide” against Ecuador. “We got off to a great start,” Nagelsmann said. “Unfortunately, right after scoring, we started committing tactical suicide with our positioning. That makes things difficult. Ecuador had everything to play for, and you could tell – they had their foot on the gas.”
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Ivory Coast meanwhile sealed the runners-up spot in Group E after eliminating Curacao in Philadelphia, with Nicolas Pepe scoring twice in a 2-0 victory. It is the first time that the West African nation has reached the knockout stage. Curacao, the smallest country by population ever to play in the World Cup, depart the tournament with one point to finish bottom of the group.
The Group E games kicked off another packed slate of six games across the tournament on Thursday, which will give more clarity to the shape of the knockout rounds. The United States have already clinched top spot in Group D and will be looking to end their first round campaign with a victory over already-eliminated Turkey in Los Angeles. The US have not reached the quarter-finals of a World Cup since 2002, but a strong start has raised hopes they could go on a deep run on home turf. Australia and Paraguay square off in a battle for second place in Santa Clara. A draw would favour the Socceroos thanks to their better goal difference but would likely be enough to send Paraguay through too.
Group F remains wide open, with the Netherlands, Japan, and Sweden still able to finish first. In Kansas City, the Dutch face a woeful Tunisia team that has suffered successive four-goal defeats and sacked their coach after the opening game. Herve Renard was parachuted in after Sabri Lamouchi’s dismissal in the wake of a 5-1 loss to Sweden, but his arrival did nothing to change Tunisia’s fortunes, as a 4-0 defeat by Japan knocked them out of the tournament. Japan are level with the Netherlands on four points going into their clash with Sweden in Arlington. After beginning the World Cup with a bang, the Swedes were hammered 5-1 by the Dutch.
On Wednesday, Brazil clinched first place in Group C with a 3-0 win over Scotland in Miami, where Neymar made his first international appearance since October 2023. Scotland face an anxious wait to see if they scrape through as one of the eight best third-placed teams. Co-hosts Mexico sailed into the last 32 with a 3-0 defeat of the Czech Republic in an ebullient Estadio Azteca to wrap up a perfect Group A record. The biggest surprise was South Africa’s qualification for the first time in their history as they pulled off a shock 1-0 win against South Korea to grab second place in Group A.
© 2024 AFP
