EAST RUTHERFORD:
Ecuador squeezed into the final 32 of the World Cup with an upset 2-1 victory over Germany on Thursday as Ivory Coast ended Curacao’s fairytale marketing campaign to seal their passage to the knockout rounds.
A nailbiting Group E recreation between Ecuador and group winners Germany on the MetLife Stadium was settled 13 minutes from time, when Gonzalo Plata jabbed house the profitable purpose from close-range for the South People.
Plata’s winner got here after Ecuador had recovered after Germany took the lead from a controversial Leroy Sane purpose after two minutes earlier than equalising via Nilson Angulo.
The end result means Ecuador completed Group E with 4 factors, guaranteeing them a spot within the final 32 as one of many eight greatest third-placed groups.
Germany had already been assured of profitable the group after wins over Ivory Coast and Curacao.
Ivory Coast in the meantime sealed the runners-up spot in Group E after eliminating Curacao in Philadelphia, Nicolas Pepe scoring twice in a 2-0 victory. It’s the first time that the west African nation have reached the knockout stage.
Curacao, the smallest nation by inhabitants ever to play within the World Cup, depart the event with one level to complete backside of the group.
The Group E video games kicked off one other packed slate of six video games throughout the event on Thursday which can give extra readability to the form of the knockout rounds.
America have already clinched prime spot in Group D and will likely be trying to finish their first spherical marketing campaign with a victory over already-eliminated Turkey in Los Angeles.
USA coach Mauricio Pochettino is anticipated to relaxation a lot of gamers saying it was “pointless to take a threat” with Chris Richards, Antonee Robinson, Tyler Adams and Folarin Balogun, who’re dealing with suspension in the event that they gather one other yellow card.
The US haven’t reached the quarter-finals of a World Cup since 2002, however a robust begin has raised hopes they might go on a deep run on house turf.
Australia and Paraguay sq. off in a battle for second place in Santa Clara. A draw would favour the Socceroos due to their higher purpose distinction however would doubtless be sufficient to ship Paraguay via too.
Three-way battle in Group FÂ
Group F stays large open with the Netherlands, Japan and Sweden nonetheless capable of end first.
In Kansas Metropolis, the Dutch face a woeful Tunisia workforce which have suffered successive four-goal defeats and sacked their coach after the opening recreation.
Herve Renard was parachuted in after Sabri Lamouchi’s dismissal within the wake of a 5-1 loss to Sweden however his arrival did nothing to alter Tunisia’s fortunes, as a 4-0 defeat by Japan knocked them out of the event.
Japan are degree with the Netherlands on 4 factors going into their conflict with Sweden in Arlington. After starting the World Cup with a bang, the Swedes had been hammered 5-1 by the Dutch.
On Wednesday, Brazil clinched first place in Group C with a 3-0 win over Scotland in Miami, the place Neymar made his first worldwide look since October 2023.
Scotland face an anxious wait to see in the event that they scrape via as one of many eight greatest third-placed groups.
Co-hosts Mexico sailed into the final 32 with a 3-0 defeat of the Czech Republic in an ebullient Estadio Azteca to wrap up an ideal Group A report.
The most important shock was South Africa’s qualification for the primary time of their historical past as they pulled off a shock 1-0 win in opposition to South Korea to seize second place in Group A.
That set off late night time celebrations in South Africa, with followers singing and honking vuvuzelas from 5:00 am, when the match completed.
“There have been fireworks exterior and the celebration went on for greater than an hour after the sport,” Soweto resident Nandi Ntini, who was woken up by the din, advised AFP.
