20 June, 2006

Hosts With The Most:
Ecuador 0 Germany 3
Costa Rica 1 Poland 2

While Costa Rica and Poland play a meaningless game in Hanover, in Berlin the hosts face Ecuador to decide the winner of the group. With a better goal difference Ecuador have the advantage before the match begins, but they rest several players.

After only 3 minutes Miroslav Klose puts the Germans ahead. Following the goal the game is fast-paced, with neither team showing any sign of treating this as anything less than an important game. Ecuador have the better of it in possession terms but the German defence keeps them away from goal. Germany's attacks are fewer but a little more threatening, though hardly terrifying.

The energy doesn't last long, and as the match proceeds the play gets scrappier and tighter. Ecuador start to look a little lazy and the first opening in some time comes on 43 minutes, when Michael Ballack puts Klose through. Klose wrongfoots the keeper to set himself up for a simple tap-in which puts Germany two up at half time.

Ecuador come out playing more competitively. Edwin Tenorio and Edison Mendez both test Jens Lehmann in the German goal, but it is Germany who score again when they make a swift counter-attack, Lukas Podolski finishing efficiently.

The match is effectively over and both sides make substitutions that are more about the next game than this one. Germany are doing their best to prove their critics wrong and are looking like a quality side, though it is fair to say that Ecuador have only played to their full capacity for short spells today.

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