Online Reporter
ECUADOR upset Germany to squeeze into the last 32 of the FIFA World Cup on Thursday night while the Netherlands, Japan and Cote d’Ivoire advanced safely as the draw for the knock-out rounds began to take shape.
The Netherlands wrapped up their first-round campaign with a 3-1 victory over Tunisia to top Group F, just ahead of Japan, who drew 1-1 with Sweden to finish in second place.
Sweden also advanced as one of the best third-place finishers.
The Dutch will now face 2022 World Cup semi-finalists Morocco in the last 32, while Japan will take on Group C winners Brazil for a place in the last 16.
A nail-biting Group E game between Ecuador and group winners Germany at MetLife Stadium was settled 13 minutes from time, when Gonzalo Plata jabbed home from close-range to set up a 2-1 win.
Plata’s winner came after Ecuador had recovered when Germany took the lead from 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 Cote d’Ivoire 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.” Cote d’Ivoire, meanwhile, sealed the runners-up spot in Group E after eliminating Curacao in Philadelphia, Nicolas Pepe scoring twice in a 2-0 victory.
It is the first time that the West African giants have reached the knock-out 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.
A packed slate of six games across the tournament on Thursday wrapped up in California in Group D. The US, who had already secured first place in the group after wins over Paraguay and Australia, fielded a heavily rotated line-up in a 3-2 loss to already eliminated Turkey at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
Mauricio Pochettino made nine changes to his starting line-up and looked to have secured a draw until Kaan Ayhan popped up in stoppage time to grab a consolation win for the Turks in a game watched by a host of celebrities, including Brad Pitt. — AFP Sport.
