- Germany lead Group E after a 7-1 win over Curacao.
- Germany have won their last 5 games in all competitions, including away victories over USA and Curacao.
Ecuador vs Germany: a test for La Tri
Ecuador and Germany will clash in New York/New Jersey on Thursday with top spot in Group E at stake and the ghost of the 2006 World Cup between the two nations hovering in the background.
Sebastián Beccacece's Ecuador side have been in mixed form lately, with a 3-0 thrashing of Guatemala following a dismal 1-0 defeat to a disciplined Ivory Coast side in their 2026 FIFA World Cup opener.
Their style of play is based around a compact, organised 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 structure, with zonal defensive discipline and lots of runs in behind the defence for wide players.
The La Tri play, but are more reactionary than pro-active in their approach, with Moisés Caicedo dictating their tempo in midfield as a pivot in transition, while they can be a threat on the counterattack when their wide players and centre forward get the ball.
Germany are red-hot favourites
Germany have been in blistering form since Julian Nagelsmann took charge, winning all 5 games under the former Bayern Munich boss.
Their opening game in FIFA World Cup 2026 saw them demolish Curacao 7-1, with Kai Havertz getting in lethal form by scoring 2 goals in his first tournament game.
Jamal Musiala and Joshua Kimmich give them their creative spark and the ability to control midfield, and they rotate well to ensure that the entire team is fully integrated into Nagelsmann's high-tempo pressing system.
The World Champions' ability to press the ball at such high intensity, move it vertically and then create in midfield should give them an advantage against Ecuador's static shape, and their ability to overload on the wings could prove a decisive factor in this encounter.
A tactical chess match between two very different teams
Germany are the clear favourites at 7/10 for this game, with Ecuador at 39/10 and the draw at 57/20. This game will be a chess match between Nagelsmann's relentless pressing and Beccacece's compact, reactive shape, but Germany's superior form, firepower and tactical edge should be enough for them to clinch the victory.
We're backing Both Teams to Score: No at 89/100, as Ecuador are disciplined and Germany dominate the possession.
