Day 12: Germany vs. Ecuador

Germany 3 -- Ecuador 0

#11 MIROSLAV KLOSE (Germany) 4', 44'
#20 LUKAS PODOLSKI (Germany) 57'

What a way to finish atop the group, another spledid performance by the efficient Germans as they recorded another shut-out. Germany has played some exciting football since Klinsmann took over and his faith was finally repaid with a convincing victory over Ecuador. So now Die Mannschaft play the runners-up from Group B and Ecuador play the winners of that group, who still have to be determined, with three teams vying for a second round berth. Germany once again took an early lead through Klose who has matured a lot since the 2002 World Cup, and he added another one just before the half. Podolski had been having some trouble finding the back of the net but finally found it today through a brilliant cross from Bernd Schneider who picked out his man and fed him very delicately for an elegant finish.

Ballack seemed to be having a quiet game but he did set up brilliant plays especially the second goal where he snuck one past the Ecuadorian backline, that was sheer brilliance. Germany would take a lot of confidence from this game and go into the knockout phase feeling relatively at ease. Ecuador on the other hand need to get their game back, allowing three goals today must be cause for concern even if the team fielded is not the full strength one. They need to be prepared of every game as nothing will be easy in the knockout stages.