Germany’s come from behind 2-1 win over Ivory Coast in its second FIFA World Cup group stage match was huge. Looking to advance past the group stages of football’s most prestigious tournament for the first time since 2014, a late winner from Deniz Undav saw the Germans celebrate not just an 11th match won in a row, but it also confirmed Germany would finish in at least the top two positions of Group E.
In other words, whether they finished 1st or 2nd, they had already gone one further than in 2018
and 2022 by qualifying for the knockout rounds.
It would get even better
The other two Group E sides, Curaçao and Ecuador, faced each other in a bid to garner their first points of the tournament. In the end, both sides had to settle for just one as the game ended in a 0-0 draw.
The stats are eye watering. Via Fotmob, Ecuador generated 3.05 xG through 27 shots, 15 of which on target, 45 touches in the opposition box and 5 big chances. However, Eloy Room stopped every attempt on his goal. With this result, the island nation managed to bag their first ever point at a World Cup in just their second game.
More importantly for those of a German persuasion, however, the 2014 World Cup winners have won the group! Remember, just one match remains for all teams in Group E. As Germany sit at the top of the table with six points, neither Ecuador, nor Curaçao (both on one point) can reach them with just the one match remaining. Only Ivory Coast could, but Germany’s victory over them ensures their head to head tie breaker would still see Germany top the group in such an eventuality.
After so many years, Germany have finally cleared the first hurdle at a World Cup.
What does this mean for the rest of the tournament?
Germany’s upcoming match against Ecuador does not mean anything anymore for the Germans. Looking beyond the group, Germany will face Group C’s 3rd placed team. At the moment, this would be Scotland.
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