By OkayGoal 
Germany officially secured top spot in Group E after Ecuador were held to a 0-0 draw by Curacao in their second group match.
Julian Nagelsmann’s side had already booked their place in the knockout stage thanks to their dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over Ivory Coast. After falling behind to Franck Kessie’s first-half goal, substitute Deniz Undav scored twice after the break to maintain Germany’s perfect start.
The draw between Ecuador and Curacao later confirmed Die Mannschaft as Group E winners with six points from two matches.
Room the Hero as Curacao Held Ecuador
Ecuador will feel they missed a huge opportunity. Despite dominating the game and creating numerous chances, they could not find a way past Curacao goalkeeper Eloy Room, who delivered a historic performance by making 15 saves. It was the second-most saves recorded in a World Cup match overall, behind only Tim Howard’s 16 saves for the United States against Belgium in 2014, although Howard’s total came in extra time.
Looking ahead to the final matchday, Germany’s clash with Ecuador carries little significance for the already-qualified group winners. However, Ecuador must secure a positive result if they want to guarantee their place in the knockout rounds.
Meanwhile, the Ivory Coast and Curacao will battle in another decisive encounter. The Elephants can book their ticket to the next stage with a victory, while Curacao are still mathematically alive and could complete a remarkable qualification story with a win.
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Group E Results
Matchday 1
- Germany 7-1 Curacao
- Ivory Coast 1-0 Ecuador
Matchday 2
- Germany 2-1 Ivory Coast
- Ecuador 0-0 Curacao
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Germany (Q) | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 2 | +7 | 6 |
| 2 | Ivory Coast | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 3 | Ecuador | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 1 |
| 4 | Curacao | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | -6 | 1 |
Group E Qualification Outlook
- Germany: Qualified as Group E winners.
- Ivory Coast: A win over Curacao guarantees qualification.
- Ecuador: Need a positive result against Germany to boost their chances of advancing.
- Curacao: Still alive. A victory over the Ivory Coast could send them into the knockout stage or at least into contention for a best third-place berth.