LiveBlog: Ecuador-Germany

Germany looked game against a lethargic Ecuador side, with the hosts winning Group A with a 3-0 effort. Germany will now play the Group B runner-up as their just reward. Ecuador will have to settle for the winner of Group B.

Final: Ecuador 0-3 Germany

Coda. Not sure what you can take away from this match. Germany dominated, but surely they realize that beating Ecuador’s subs won’t mean much. On the other hand, they will gain some confidence for their match against England/Sweden/T&T.

Thanks for stopping by and leaving your comments. As always, check back here at World Cup Blog during the matches, where we will be LiveBlogging the rest of World Cup.

Full Time. Germany 3, Ecuador 0. Germany wins Group A. Congrats to Germany!

90+ Corner kick for Ecuador. Can they snatch a goal here? Nope.

90:00 2 minutes of stoppage time. Just about 2 minutes too long.

89:04 Germany packing it in. Ambrossi gets a shot off, but no dice.

87:49 It looks like the Ecua defense would trade a fourth German goal for an early end to the match.

86:40 Very nice long-range shot by Ballack, but a good save from Mora keeps it Germany 3-0.

86:00 Germany will now play the second place team from Group B on Saturday. Ecuador will take the Group B winners on Sunday.

84:40 Mora with a nice save on a shot by Schweinsteiger.

83:44 The German defense still not showing many creases for Ecuador to exploit. It was the Ecuador B (and C) strikeforce, but the Germans have done well nonetheless.

82:44 Germans set up, but Ecuador come the other way. Lara is teeny!

81:30 Benitiez trying to get something going. But weaving through four German defenders isn’t going to cut it.

80:42 Another German counterattacck, but it breaks down. Ecuador try to set up again.

79:40 Nothin’ goin’ on the rent. Still 3-0 Germany. The fans are already looking forward the celebration. Berlin would be a fun place to be tonight.

76:54 Ecuador getting nothing going at all now. If they were wearing watches, they be looking at them right now.

76:03Still Germany 3, Ecuador 0. Ballack with a nice, long drive, but no save necessary.

74:51 Lehman hasn’t really been tested today. Just a couple of knocks over the bar has been it.

74:00 Can Ecuador pull one back? Maybe, but it would likely be a lucky effort, since they can’t get much of anything going. Yellow card for Borowski.

72:58 Not much going on here. A little back and forth, but this one’s been in the freezer for some time. Still 3-0 Germany.

72:00 Schneider out for Germany. Asamoah in.

71:00 Benitez receives attention on his hand as Mendez’ free kick goes over the goal. Not a bad shot.

70:00 Twenty minutes left. Still Germany 3-0. Hilarious shot of Suarez, wondering about his favorite kind of ceviche (Note: Shrimp.)

68:50 Lara, the Ecua sub, is the shortest man in this year’s World Cup.

67:52 Announcers now analyzing the German players’ high fives. Ooh boy. Anyway, Urrutia in for Ecuador. Ayovi out I believe.

67:09 So…heard any good jokes lately?

66:00 Klose out for Germany, but Ballack still in.

64:40 I think the Ecuadorian players’ parents are all at the game today. Must be why Suarez wants everybody to get a chance to play. You know, like little League.

63:40 Podolski again on the counterattack, but offside is called.

63:00 Lara came on for Valencia, who is carrying a yellow now. Smart move.

61:49 Ballack shot goes wide, but it again brings up the question, Why is he in still? Risky. Cristian Lara on for Ecuador

61:01 Ecuador threatening again, but it comes to nothing. The German counterattack is looking good.

59:59 Still Germany 3, Ecuador 0. Not sure what you can take away from this match at this point.

59:00 Nearly a fourth for Germany, as Podolski’s shot is saved.

57:50 Scoreline starting to look ugly for Ecuador, sweet for Germany.

56:45 GOOOOOAAAAAAAL Podolski! He’s been threatening all day. 3-0 Germany, and the match is surely over now.

56:13 Ecuador corner comes to naught. Ecuador showing some more life here, but Germany on the attack.

55:45 Klinsmann is up and active on the sideline. Coach Suarez is trying to decide his favorite flavor of popsicle. (Note: Grape.)

53:56 Klose has now scored 9 World Cup goals all-time. That’s a lot.

52:38 Germany 2, Ecuador 0, as Podolski’s whot goes wide. Goal kick.

52:00 It was Ballack that Vanlencia took down. Why is Ballack out there still?

50:51 Yellow! Our first one today, as Valencia gets booked for a clumsy tackle.

49:21 Another corner for Ecuador thanks to Ambrossi. Cleared again, but Ecuador retain possession. Handball on Espinoza ends the set.

48:10 Still 2-0 Germany. E. Tenorio shows a little something with a long shot, which was knocked out by Lehman. Corner is cleared.

47:15 This Ecuador team looks like the squad that lost to Macedonia last month. In case you’re wondering, that’s not a good thing.

45:45 Ecuador nearly give up a quick goal. Looking shaky still.

45:00 We’re off! Again! Germany leads Ecuador 2-0 as the second half gets under way. Cristian Benitez on for Ecuador for Felix Borja.

Nearing Start of 2nd Half. Not a very good match so far, and with the result only slightly in doubt, it’s not likely to get any better. Germany can be happy with a 2-0 lead, which looks insurmountable with the Ecuadorians’ effort today. When both teams are already through to the second round, you just can’t count on a proper match.

Some in the comments have said that some channels’ announcers are saying the reffing is going for Germany today. I haven’t really noticed that myself. Even if true, it’s not why Ecuador are down 2-0.

So: can Ecuador come back to draw, or will Klose just keep knockin’ ‘em in?

Halftime. Germany 2-0 Ecuador. The score is fair considering the teams’ relative play.

45+ German fans in Berlin appreciate their team today, and can feel the Group A victory coming. And since their scared of the English, that good news for Germany. A nice showing thus far.

45:00 Looks like it will be 2-0 heading into the half. 2 minutes of stoppage time.

44:09 Ecuador just aren’t into it today. They’re not playing their first team, and they seem nearly disinterested on defense.

43:00 GOOOOAAAAAL for Germany! Klose again, but it was all Ballack’s good work. 2-0.

42:49 Germany is simply passing better than Ecuador today.

42:00 Methinks that Ecuador is also missing Delgado and C. Tenorio today. Much less spark on offense. Borja not much of a factor.

40:59 Lehman and Kaviedes run into to one another, although it’s hard to tell how either of them could have been inured as a result.

39:33 Germany still leading 1-0. Looks like Costa Rica and Poland are knotted at 1-1 in the other Group A game.

38:40 Ecuador attack but are snuffed out. Germany seems to have lost a little spark as well.

36:58 Nice dummy, but Kaviedes’ shot is off of the mark. They’ll need more of that to equalise.

36:20 A little run for Ecuador here.

34:40 Ecuador con’t get a sustained run going. Valencia has disappeared for the last few minutes. Still 1-0 for Germany.

34:00 Guagua elbows Ballack, but no card shown.

33:21 Most of the action taking place in Ecuador’s side of the pitch again. I don’t think this b-squad defense will hold up the next 60 minutes.

32:32 Ballack with a dangerous free kick. Headed out for a deep throw. Klose gets shot, but too high.

31:05 I think in German, you’d call Miroslav Klose a Pochenskorer. Not really. Still Germany 1-0.

29:59 Germany the much more threatening side thus far. Looking more like they did against Costa Rica on offense than they did against Poland on offense.

29:10 Ballack takes a very long shot when he thinks Mora is out of position. Goal kick.

28:27 Still Germany 1-0. A loooong way to go, but it’s probably good that Ecuador didn’t need a result today to advance.

27:24 Ambrossi nearly killed by Huth. In some countries, they would now be married after such a collision. Goal kick.

26:31 Germany on the march again. Announcers having some fun with Jorge Guagua’s surname. Free kick for Germany.

25:33 Unless I’m mistaken, no yellow cards yet and we’re 25 minutes in!

24:10 Nice save by Mora as Klose was getting in toward goal.

22:46 Ecuador showing more control, but a German goal kick results. Nice pass through by Kaviedes, though.

21:48 Nice run by Germany, but Podolski was offside. Ecuad ‘keeper Mora still wearing his trademark facepaint.

20:30 Kaviedes kicked in the face. And he getting treatment, but after the Brian McBride bloodbath, we expect a lot of crimson from bad facial injuries.

20:00 Nice Podolski run ends as the ball roll out of bounds. Nice necktie from Coach Suarez today.

19:05 Ecuador also playing without captain and defensive rock Ivan Hurtado.

18:21 Schneider’s shot goes way over the Ecuador goal after a nice cross.

17:31 Game much more even now, but Germany made Ecuador pay for a slow start.

17:00 Long shot by Edison Mendez rolls harmlessly wide.

16:21 Ecuador look to be playing for the draw, which is difficult when you’re already losing 1-0.

15:32 Wonder if any other players have masks in their pants today?

15:00 Ecuador looking a little better on the offensive end, but no shot results.

14:21 Ecuador is resting their starting strikers today, opting instead for Felix Borja and Ivan Kaviedes.

13:50 Germany attacking again. Ballack getting involved. He looks fit so far.

12:22 The announcers wonder what has happened to Ecuador midfield control. I’m wondering the same.

11:32 Just to remind you, if either team wins, that team will win Group A. If it’s a draw, then Ecuador will win the group on goal difference.

10:40 That was Germany’s fastest WC goal since 1978. 1-0 Germany.

9:29 Nothing opening up for Ecuador. Germany looking better than they did against Poland last Wednesday.

8:49 Coach Suarez knows this isn’t a friendly, right?

7:34 Germany having the run of play thus far. The crowd is really into it. As well they should be after such a quick strike.

6:43 Klose with the German goal, by the way. Germany leads 1-0.

6:00 Germany getting several free kicks in dangerous positions.

4:49 Nice work by Germany, as Ecuador concedes its first goal of the World Cup.

3:38 GOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAL Germany! That was quick! Ecuas looking lazy on defense so far. 1-0.

2:45 germany with control, looking for an opening. Corner for the Germans.

2:00 No yellow cards yet!

0:59 Nice chance for Ecuador, but Lehman is all over it. looks like a sunny day in Berlin.

0:00 We’re off! Ecuador in yellow, Germany in White.

PREGAME

Germany is a pretty strong favorite today. Certainly they will have the fans behind them today in Berlin.

Whew! That was close! So…What are your last-minute predictions as we near kickoff?

A little over 4 hours to go until gametime. We may not know the starting lineups until just before the match. I’ve seen several different lineups over the last day, each purporting to be the correct one. We’ll see. With so many factors besides winning the group in play–injuries, yellow cards, etc.–the impetus to not go all out will exist.

12 hours to go: Wow, only 1/2 day to go until this match kicks off. The winner will take Group A, and most likely avoid England. If it’s a draw, Ecuador will win their group. Either way, both teams will have a spot in the second round.

Who do you think will win?