An increasingly desperate Ecuador stunned Germany 2-1 in their final Group E game on Thursday to drag their World Cup campaign out of the flames and qualify for a place in the last 32.

Needing a win — or a miracle — to keep their ​hopes alive, the South Americans suffered the worst possible start when already-qualified Germany struck in the second minute, with Leroy ‌Sane opening his account at a major international tournament in his 15th appearance at one.

Ecuador had failed to score in this tournament despite 39 previous attempts, but finally broke their duck with their 40th shot when Nilson Angulo curled the ball beyond Manuel Neuer to spark wild celebrations among the sea of yellow in ​the stands.

Gonzalo Plata then bundled home the winner with 13 minutes remaining to complete Ecuador’s stirring comeback as their fans erupted ​with joy at the sold-out New York/New Jersey stadium.

“It was incredible. We had a lot of faith and ⁠want our fans to know that there are 26 players here that will give their all for everyone in our country,” Plata told ​reporters.

“People packed the stadiums wherever we played and made us feel right at home. They deserve this far more than we do. We struggled ​a lot in the first two matches but now we’re even more determined.

“We’ve learnt that you have to give it your all right up to the last minute, even if the goal doesn’t come early on. Today we struggled right to the end and, thank goodness, it went our way.”

GERMANY’S VULNERABILITY EXPOSED AGAIN

Already assured ​of qualification as group winners, Germany finished top with six points, ahead of Ivory Coast on goal difference after the African side beat Curacao 2-0. ​Ecuador have qualified as one of the best eight third-placed teams.

Germany had been chasing a third win from three Group E matches and a 12th successive ‌victory, but ⁠their defensive vulnerabilities were exposed again and they have now conceded in all three group matches.

“We keep inviting the opposition in with turnovers, making them look good in the process,” captain Joshua Kimmich told reporters.

“Fortunately, no real harm has been done yet. But it’s clear we can’t afford another defeat. We can’t keep conceding one or two goals every game. We need to minimise our turnover rate; then we can beat ​anyone.”

Germany started explosively, with Sane finishing ​left-footed from just inside the area ⁠in the second minute after Florian Wirtz cleverly found his teammate after a quick throw-in.

Ecuador protested that Aleksandar Pavlovic had caught Pedro Vite in the head with a raised foot in the build-up, but referee ​Tori Penso allowed the goal to stand.

Ecuador, who had arrived under pressure after a defeat by Ivory ​Coast and draw ⁠with Curacao, responded swiftly. Angulo curled thee ball into the net from the edge of the box in the ninth minute, with goalkeeper Manuel Neuer slow to react.

The second half began with more controversy when Penso awarded Germany a penalty after Felix Nmecha played in Kai Havertz, who appeared to ⁠be tripped ​by Joel Ordonez.

After a VAR review, however, the referee overturned the decision for a Germany ​foul in the build-up.

Clear chances were then limited until Plata struck in the 78th minute, reacting quickest after substitute Kevin Rodriguez flicked on a corner at the near post ​and stabbing the ball past Neuer to send the stadium into uproar.

(Reuters)

Veteran Brazil forward Neymar made his long-awaited debut at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Wednesday, coming off the bench in the second half of Brazil’s Group C match against Scotland after missing the team’s opening two games with a calf injury.

The 34-year-old entered to loud cheers from Brazilian supporters at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, marking his first appearance for the national team since returning from a lengthy injury absence and his fourth World Cup campaign

Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti had confirmed before kickoff that Neymar was fully fit after training throughout the week but opted to start him among the substitutes as he continued his recovery.

Neymar had been sidelined for more than a month with a right calf injury that kept him out of Brazil’s opening 1-1 draw with Morocco and 3-0 victory over Haiti. His return provided a major boost for the five-time world champions as they sought to secure first place in Group C and build momentum heading into the knockout stage.

Brazil controlled much of the contest against Scotland, allowing Ancelotti to ease Neymar back into competitive action rather than rush him into the starting lineup.

The appearance was widely viewed as an important milestone for the country’s all-time leading scorer, whose place in the squad had been heavily scrutinised following a series of injuries in recent years.

Neymar’s return also marked his first World Cup appearance since the 2022 tournament in Qatar and his first international match at a major tournament since suffering a serious knee injury during World Cup qualifying in 2023.

With the knockout rounds approaching, Brazil hopes the veteran playmaker can regain full fitness and add experience to a squad chasing a record-extending sixth World Cup title.

GN

After dominating the first half of the game with a goal by Nizar Al Rashdan in minute 36, Jordan conceded two goals to Algeria.

With one game left, Jordan is set to face off reigning champions Argentina and Algeria is set to play Austria on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Kylian Mbappe scored his second brace in as many matches as France eased ‌into the last 32 with a 3-0 victory over Iraq on Monday in the first match of this World Cup beset by a lengthy weather stoppage.

The goals for Mbappe, in his 100th cap, came nearly three hours apart after thunderstorms ​in the region delayed the second-half kickoff by approximately two hours.

“The first half was good,” French manager Didier Deschamps said. “In the second half, we picked up where we left off, bearing in mind that it wasn’t easy given what happened, and we managed to put the game beyond reach. That’s a very good thing.”

Mbappe now sits on 16 all-time World Cup goals, pulling level with the former record-holder, Germany’s Miroslav Klose. Earlier on Monday, Lionel Messi set a new benchmark of 18 World Cup goals with a brace in Argentina’s 2-0 win over Austria.

Mbappe’s four goals also put him one behind Messi in the Golden Boot ‌race.

Reigning Ballon d’Or ‌winner Ousmane Dembele also scored after halftime for two-time champions France, ​who ‌will ⁠face Norway ​on ⁠Saturday with the Group I title on the line. Norway defeated Senegal 3-2 later Monday night to also move to 2-0-0 in the event.

Because of their superior goal difference, France need only a draw against Norway on Friday in Foxborough, Mass., to top the group.

Dembele had faced criticism for what some regarded as a poor performance in France’s 3-1 opening win over Senegal.

“There’s no issue,” Deschamps said. “Ousmane is confident in himself. He can sometimes get people talking, but I have complete faith in him. He’s still finding his bearings because his role is ⁠different from the one he has at his club.”

Iraq remain alive for one ‌of the eight third-place spots that will qualify for the round ‌of 32.

They probably would need a win in their group finale ​against Senegal and help elsewhere. They could be without ‌Aymen Hussein, who scored in their 4-1 opening defeat by Norway but came off in the ‌26th minute on Monday with an apparent injury.

“You have one moment of excellence from one of the best players in the world,” Ali Al-Hamadi, who came on for Hussein, said of Mbappe’s first-half goal. “And then we have to go inside and wait for an hour and a half. You know, it’s really difficult to come out and keep the same ‌intensity against these great players. And in the end I think we made too many mistakes again.”

France dominated the early stages and Mbappe capitalized ⁠in the 14th minute.

After ⁠an innocent-looking sequence on the right, Mbappe received Michael Olize’s pass, took one touch to his left, and with defenders affording him space, unfurled a powerful strike from the edge of the area that sailed beyond Ahmed Basil’s dive. The 20-yard blast came off his weaker left foot.

The weather delay could have served as a recovery period for Iraq, who spent most of the first half chasing the ball. Instead, they gifted France and Mbappe a second in the 54th minute after a dreadful mistake from a goal kick.

Dembele was the provider for Mbappe’s tap-in. Dembele scored himself 12 minutes later after controlling Olize’s incisive pass and finishing low past Basil.

With the outcome never in doubt, the weather provided most of the drama.

After referee Drew Fischer blew his halftime whistle as the storms were already beginning, the skies opened further ​and spectators were told to seek shelter in the ​stadium concourses.

The players finally re-emerged for warm-ups about 1 hour, 40 minutes later, and even then, the restart was delayed further as stadium personnel used squeegees to shuttle standing water off the east side of the pitch.

ARAB NEWS