Goal-chasing Ecuador visit Germany: likely line-ups

In the final Group E match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Germany, who have already secured top spot in the group, face an Ecuador fighting for survival at MetLife Stadium. While the game offers a chance to experiment and rest for Julian Nagelsmann's Germany, who won both their matches, only a win can keep Ecuador's hopes of advancing alive.

Ecuador came into the tournament with high expectations, especially with their solid defence. But a stoppage-time defeat to Côte d'Ivoire and then a 0-0 draw with Curaçao shook expectations. The South American side could not beat keeper Eloy Room despite taking 27 shots in the Curaçao game, producing one of the tournament's shock results. Ecuador are one of four teams yet to score at this tournament (along with Haiti, Türkiye and Panama) and, despite leading everyone but Germany in shots on target per match, are the side that has missed the most big chances.

For Germany, Nagelsmann is expected to make wholesale rotation. The coach has to rebuild his defence after Nico Schlotterbeck's tournament-ending injury against Côte d'Ivoire; Malick Thiaw could feature alongside Antonio Rüdiger. In a game meaningless for Germany, the players who started the previous match are expected to be rested. With Germany on an 11-match winning run and the tournament's top scorers, whether Deniz Undav — who stood out with 5 goal involvements off the bench — earns a starting place is a point of interest.

The two teams' form is a complete contrast. Germany are on an 11-match winning run and the tournament's top scorers with nine, while Ecuador, despite coming into the tournament off a 19-match unbeaten run, are struggling in the spotlight. Sebastian Beccacece's side are now four games without a win at the World Cup — the longest run in the nation's history. Ecuador are expected to have 36-year-old Enner Valencia and Gonzalo Plata leading the attack in a 3-5-2; the problem is not creating chances, but getting the ball over the line.

Likely XIs
Ecuador (3-5-2): Galíndez; Franco, Pacho, Hincapié; Yeboah, Caicedo, Alcívar, Vite, Estupiñan; Valencia, Plata
Germany (4-2-3-1): Baumann; Anton, Thiaw, Rüdiger, Raum; Goretzka, Stiller; Amiri, Lewelling, Beier; Undav