Group E action comes to an end on Thursday night, with both matches kicking off at 22:00. Ecuador take on Germany, while Curaçao face Ivory Coast and we look at both fixtures from a betting front below.
Group E Update
Germany sit top of Group E with six points after winning both of their opening matches and they are guaranteed top spot in the Group.
Ivory Coast occupy second place on three points, while Ecuador and Curaçao are both on one point heading into the final round of fixtures.
Ivory Coast know that victory over Curaçao would secure qualification to the Round of 32, while a draw may still be enough depending on the result in the other fixture.
Ecuador remain in contention but will need a positive result against Germany to keep their hopes alive, which makes their task extremely difficult.
Curaçao still have a mathematical chance of progressing but their heavy defeat to Germany has left them with a poor goal difference and they will need to beat Ivory Coast to stand any realistic chance of reaching the knockout stages.
Curaçao vs Ivory Coast
Underdogs Curaçao began their World Cup campaign with a heavy 7-1 defeat against Germany. They were badly exposed defensively throughout the contest and struggled to cope with the pace and quality of the German attack but gained confidence from their first World Cup goal.
They responded with a much better performance in Round 2 by holding Ecuador to a 0-0 draw. That result earned them their first point of the tournament and showed improved organisation, although their goal difference remains a major obstacle heading into the final fixture.
Ivory Coast opened their campaign with an important 1-0 victory over Ecuador. The Africans produced a disciplined performance and took full advantage of their opportunity to put three points on the board early in the tournament.
Their second outing ended in a narrow 2-1 defeat against Germany. Franck Kessie gave Ivory Coast the lead in the first half, but they were unable to hold on as Germany struck twice after the break, including a late winner deep into stoppage time.
Head-to-Head
There have been no previous meetings between Curaçao and Ivory Coast.
Betting – Click here to bet
Curaçao 19.00
Draw 8.50
Ivory Coast 1.16
Verdict
Ivory Coast remain in a strong position to qualify, and this is a fixture they will be expected to win. Curaçao showed improvement against Ecuador but were heavily punished by Germany and could struggle again against a more direct Ivory Coast side. With qualification on the line, Ivory Coast should be able to take control and finish the job when it matters most.
BET: Result and Totals – Ivory Coast and Over 3.5 Goals at 2.50
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Ecuador vs Germany
Ecuador have endured a frustrating tournament so far and remain without a goal after their opening two matches. They began with a narrow 1-0 defeat against Ivory Coast in a tight encounter where they struggled to turn possession into clear scoring chances.
Their second fixture ended in a disappointing 0-0 draw against Curaçao. Ecuador entered the match as strong favourites but were unable to find a breakthrough, leaving them on just one point and in need of a major result against Germany to keep hopes alive.
Germany have been one of the strongest attacking sides in the group stage. They opened their campaign with a dominant 7-1 victory over Curaçao, producing a ruthless display in the second-half and immediately taking control of the group.
They followed that up with a tight 2-1 victory over Ivory Coast. Germany trailed after Ivory Coast’s first half goal, but Deniz Undav scored twice in the second-half to secure another three points and keep the side in pole position heading into the final Round.
Head-to-Head
Germany have won both previous meetings between the nations. Their most recent encounter ended in a 4-2 victory for Germany during an International Friendly in 2013.
Betting – Click here to bet
Ecuador 3.65
Draw 4.00
Germany 1.98
Verdict
Ecuador have been solid defensively but their lack of cutting edge in attack is a major concern, especially against a Germany side that has already scored nine goals in two matches. Germany may rotate their squad slightly after securing six points, but I believe they still hold ample attacking flair to cause problems and should have enough in the tank to finish the group stage with a perfect record.
BET: Germany to Win at 1.98
Note: All prices are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change.
