Antonio Rüdiger makes first start at 2026 World Cup as Germany fall 2-1 to Ecuador

Despite a sensational start that saw Leroy Sané score in the 2nd minute, Germany suffered their first defeat at the 2026 World Cup at the hands of Ecuador.  The Germans had already secured the top spot in Group E prior to the match.  Despite having little to play for, Julian Nagelsmann fielded a strong starting 11, not deviating much from his starting lineup in the prior two matches with the only two changes being injury replacements; Antonio Rüdiger was handed his first start at the 2026 World Cup, replacing the injured Nico Schlotterbeck, while David Raum came on at left back to fill-in for Nathaniel Brown who was sidelined with a minor adductor/muscular issue.   Brown, the new left-back at Bayern Munich with the German club having signed the 23-year-old for €55 million from Eintracht Frankfurt earlier in the day, is expected back for Monday’s knockout round match.

Ecuador needed a win to qualify to the knockout round and played inspired football despite the early disadvantage. Playing before a predominantly Ecuadorian fan base in New Jersey, the South American nation tied the score in the 9th minute though a brilliant strike from outside the box by Sunderland’s Nilson Angulo for Ecuador’s first goal at the 2026 World Cup. However, some German fans may feel Manuel Neuer should have done more to prevent the long-distance effort.  The 23-year-old Angulo also had 4 successful dribbles, the most in the match, on his way to Man of the Match honors.

The decisive goal in the match came in the 77th minute from Flamengo’s Gonzalo Plata who shrewdly re-directed a Kevin Rodríguez header following a corner kick into the back of the net, striking the ball with his left foot before Manuel Neuer could grasp it with his hands.  Once again, many Germans may feel the 40-year-old German keeper should have been more alert to prevent the game-winning score.

Real Madrid’s Rüdiger played the entire match and completed 70 of 76 passes (92%), including 7 into the final third of the pitch, had 1 successful tackle and 4 clearances while committing no fouls.  With Schlotterbeck nursing an ankle ligament injury,  Rüdiger is expected to be in the starting 11 again on Monday.

Germany plays Monday in Boston with its opponent likely to be Paraguay while Ecuador’s opponent will be either Mexico, Switzerland, the winner of Group K (Colombia or Portugal) or the winner of Group L (currently led by England).