Having conceded five goals in 18 qualifying matches, Ecuador would have two clean sheets at the World Cup barring Amad Diallo’s 90th-minute winner for Ivory Coast on matchday one – but that defensive resolve holds few fears for Germany forward Jamie Leweling.
Die Mannschaft, who will finish top of Group E, won their opener 7-1 against Curacao before coming from behind with goals after the 67th minute to beat Ivory Coast 2-1.
“We will definitely find ways to break through their defence and score goals,” Stuttgart’s Leweling said of La Tri. “We know their players.
“They play at the highest level, they are dangerous. We have a few players who haven’t played at all yet and, when they come in, they’ll give their all and bring joy to Germany – I can say that.”
Captain Enner Valencia is the likeliest candidate to end Ecuador’s wait of more than 203 minutes for a World Cup goal in a game they must win to have a chance of reaching the knockout stage.
The 49-goal record marksman for his country had scored each of Ecuador’s six previous World Cup goals before Moises Caicedo netted their most recent in a defeat to Senegal in 2022.
“The headers he used to score earned him the nickname Superman,” teammate Piero Hincapie told FIFA of the 36-year-old.
“He was always there to encourage me, even during the tough times I’ve had here. He was always there for us as a captain, giving us that extra drive to keep dreaming.”
Ivory Coast and Curacao meet in Philadelphia in the simultaneous group stage finale on Thursday.
| P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 2 | +7 | 6 |
| Ivory Coast | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| Ecuador | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 1 |
| Curacao | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | -6 | 1 |
World Cup 2026: Ecuador v Germany team news
Ecuador brought in wideman Pervis Estupinan and defensive midfielder Jordy Alcivar for their 0-0 draw with Curacao on matchday two but the pair were the first players to be replaced, with forward Kevin Rodriguez supplanting Alcivar at half-time.
Germany defender Nico Schlotterbeck is out of the finals after damaging a ligament in his left ankle against Ivory Coast.
Deniz Undav reinforced his push for a starting berth by scoring twice after coming on in that game to take his tally to three at the finals.
The only players to have outscored Stuttgart’s Undav are Norway’s Erling Haaland and France’s Kylian Mbappe – both on four goals – and Argentina’s Lionel Messi, on five.
