Ecuador upset Germany to reach World Cup last 32 as Curacao eliminated

Ecuador upset Germany to reach the World Cup last 32 on Thursday, setting the knockout bracket as the draw began. At MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, Ecuador won 2-1 over Germany, with Gonzalo Plata scoring the decisive goal 13 minutes from time. Germany took an early lead via a controversial Leroy Sane goal after two minutes, before Ecuador equalized through Nilson Angulo. Ecuador finished Group E with four points to qualify as one of the eight best third-placed teams, while Germany had already been assured of winning the group after earlier wins over Ivory Coast and Curacao. Elsewhere, the Netherlands beat Tunisia 3-1 to top Group F, and Japan drew 1-1 with Sweden to finish second, setting a last-32 clash versus Brazil. The article also reported Ivory Coast reaching the last 32 after a 2-0 win over Curacao, and the United States losing 3-2 to Turkey in a rotated lineup in Los Angeles.