Image Credits: Imago Images
Germany and Florian Wirtz headed into their final Group E clash against Ecuador at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey all but guaranteed to qualify to the knockout rounds, but Julian Nagelsmann’s side were still dealt a surprising result on the night.
It was the Liverpool man who got proceedings underway.
Florian Wirtz slipped an incisive pass into the path of Leroy Sane just 112 seconds into the match, with the winger calmly sweeping home to give Germany a dream start.
It was Wirtz’s second assist of the tournament, and it looked as though Die Mannschaft were cruising toward another comfortable victory.
However, Ecuador had other ideas. Nilson Angulo levelled things up as early as the ninth minute, capitalising on a loose ball outside the penalty area and firing low past a 40-year-old Manuel Neuer.
The second half was a scrappy, physical affair with Germany struggling to impose themselves, and in the 77th minute, Gonzalo Plata pounced on a nodded-down corner to fire the winner into the roof of the net.
For Wirtz, the German media still feel he has more to offer.
Spox.com gave him a 4.5/10 rating and noted that his link with Jamal Musiala was not “optimal” at times:
“As usual, he regularly oriented himself towards the centre, where the division of space with Musiala was not always optimal. He set up Sane’s 1-0 cleverly. Grade: 4.”
Abendzeitung-Muenchen gave the Liverpool No.7 a 3.5 out of 5 and noted he is “still missing” a big tournament moment:
“Perfect lay-off to Sané before his 1-0, his second assist at the World Cup. As a left winger, he was always looking for long shots from the half-field. The Liverpool star is still missing the tournament moment.”
Despite the defeat, Germany’s group-stage campaign as a whole was emphatic.
Germany’s attention now turns to their Round of 32 tie in Boston on Monday, June 29, where they will face a third-placed finisher from either Group A, B, C, D, or F.
Paraguay and Australia are among the most likely opponents following results elsewhere, though Scotland and Sweden have also been in the frame