Curaçao holds Ecuador to a goalless draw, sending Germany through as Group E winner
A determined defensive display from World Cup debutants Curaçao, combined with two German wins, has already decided the Group E winner with one game to spare.
The match in Kansas City
Curaçao, the smallest nation ever to qualify for a men's World Cup, claimed a famous point with a 0-0 draw against Ecuador in front of 68,598 fans at Kansas City. The Caribbean side, coached by 78-year-old Dick Advocaat, set up in a compact 5-3-2 formation and frustrated their South American opponents throughout.
Ecuador has a better team than Curaçao. But that doesn't mean they'll have it easy. We have to see that we keep the game open as long as possible.
Goalkeeper Eloy Room was the hero, denying early chances from Enner Valencia, Pedro Vite and former Bundesliga professional John Yeboah, and a second-half header from Gonzalo Plata. Ecuador, under coach Sebastián Beccacece, struggled to cope with the pressure after losing their opening match 1-0 to Ivory Coast.
How Germany became group winner
Germany, with Julian Nagelsmann at the helm, had already put themselves in a strong position. A 7-1 thrashing of Curaçao on matchday one was followed by a 2-1 win over Ivory Coast, with substitute Deniz Undav scoring both goals. That left Germany on six points, and Curaçao's draw against Ecuador means no other team can match that tally.
Even if Ivory Coast beat Curaçao and Germany lose to Ecuador in the final round, Germany holds the head-to-head advantage over Ivory Coast, making them unreachable at the top.
What comes next
Germany will play their final group match against Ecuador in East Rutherford on Thursday (25 June). The round-of-16 awaits the group winner, with a fixture in Foxborough on 29 June against one of the best eight third-placed teams. Bosnia-Herzegovina, Scotland and Japan are among the realistic opponents.
Further down the line, a potential quarter-final would return to Foxborough on 9 July, and a semi-final in Arlington, Texas on 14 July. The expanded 48-team tournament final is set for 19 July in East Rutherford.
For Ecuador, the draw leaves them on one point alongside Curaçao, with Ivory Coast on three. All four teams still have a mathematical chance of progressing to the knockout rounds on the final matchday.
