Mario Melchiot
Former Netherlands defender on the Football Daily podcast

You know what the key thing is? Ecuador had a lot of passion in them.

The speed and the way that they were playing - they were pressing Germany in a way I didn't expect. That is why I think they got themselves under pressure and [into] difficult situations.

Normally when you score a goal, you track back. Ecuador, no - they just kept on going. The first-half was a little bit less, but in the second-half they kept on going. Even if they weren't leading they kept on pressing.

BBC Sport World Cup pundits Joe Hart, Ellen White and Lucas Leiva believe Leroy Sane's goal should have been disallowed because Alexander Pavlovic's high boot in the build-up to the goal was an example of "endangering the opponent" and therefore should have been classed as a foul.

Germany made the perfect start after only two minutes when Leroy Sane picked up Florian Wirtz's clever pass in the area to fire a clinical finish beyond Ecuador keeper Hernan Galindez.

But Ecuador were furious with Sane's goal and were convinced they should have been awarded a foul for Alexandar Pavlovic's high boot on Pedro Vite in the build-up.

Their protests were ignored and the goal stood.

Take a look below.

Singer Sabrina Carpenter was spotted watching Ecuador v Germany with binoculars at the New York New Jersey Stadium on Thursday.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Mario Melchiot
Former Netherlands defender on the Football Daily podcast

[Sebastian Beccacece] is Argentinian and his country won the World Cup last time and now you are bringing another country to it, so they [Argentinians] are going to watch you too.

Ecuador have made a lot of development, in the years coming through to now and now they have really star players. You have got to make it a team.

Maybe Germany were a little bit too confident, maybe a little bit too slow and that [the result] was a surprise.

Alan Shearer
Former England striker on BBC One

If Ecuador hadn't won this game, he [Sebastian Beccacece] wouldn't have been in the job.

He was looking for a reaction from his players and boy has he got one. Look at his reaction to family members, fans and friends - he deserves it.

Him and his players put a shift in - they gambled, they fought, they scrapped and they've come out on top.

Adwaidh Rajan
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

When referee Mary Victoria Penso blew the final whistle in New Jersey, Ecuador head coach Sebastian Beccacece clambered over the stadium barriers to celebrate with his family.

The Argentine tactician had said beforehand that he expected to step down if his side failed to reach the World Cup knockout stages.

But the scenes at full-time after a famous 2-1 victory, which secured their place in the knockout stages for only the second time in history, suggested he has earned more time at the helm - not least because of the fighting spirit his side displayed to beat the four-time world champions.

They began the 2026 qualifiers under Felix Sanchez, who guided them to three wins from six matches before the former Qatar boss was dismissed in July 2024, straight after a Copa America quarter-final defeat by Argentina.

Beccacece's reign began with a 1-0 defeat by Brazil but his side did not lose again in 11 matches as they qualified for the World Cup as runners-up in South America - only behind defending champions Argentina.

It meant they arrived at the tournament with high expectations and boasting a 19-game unbeaten run.

"I want people to fall in love with these footballers because this Ecuadorean team makes people fall in love with them. Then we can see how far we get," Beccacece said.

Read more here

Here's a reminder of the results from the overnight matches:

Group D

• Paraguay (3rd) 0-0 Australia (2nd)
• Turkey (4th) 3-2 USA (1st)

Group E

• Curacao (4th) 0-2 Ivory Coast (2nd)
• Ecuador (3rd) 2-1 Germany (1st)

Group F

• Japan (2nd) 1-1 Sweden (3rd)
• Tunisia (4th) 1-3 Netherlands (1st)

Each side's finishing position within the group is in brackets. Just click on the links in the score to read the full match reports.

Right, back to reaction from the overnight games, which included one hammer blow after another to Scotland's chances of progressing...

Scotland

Image source, Getty Images

While we are talking about World Cup odds, the chances are getting slimmer of Scotland squeezing into the last 32, but where there is a chance - albeit a slim 5.26% - there is hope.

Steve Clarke's side need four third-placed sides to finish the group stages with a worse record than their three points and -3 goal difference.

Six groups have been completed, and all five third-placed finishers in Groups A, B, D, E and F have finished with a better record than Scotland did in Group C.

There are now six groups left to complete - Groups I, H and G tonight (Friday) and Groups L, K and J on Saturday.

Below is what needs to happen in each group for Scotland to finish above the third-placed side. Remember - they need four of these six scenarios to finish in their favour:

FRIDAY

• Group I: Senegal and Iraq to draw. Or Iraq to beat Senegal by no more than two goals.
• Group H: Uruguay to lose to Spain.
• Group G: Iran to lose to Egypt.

SATURDAY

• Group L: Croatia to lose to Ghana by at least three goals.
• Group K: DR Congo v Uzbekistan to be a draw. Or Uzbekistan to win by no more than three goals.
• Group J: Austria and Algeria are on three points and a draw would send both through. Scotland need Algeria to lose by two or more goals, or Austria to be beaten by at least four goals.

BBC Sounds

Former Netherlands defender and current Los Angeles resident Mario Melchiot has hooked up with the Football Daily team in Santa Monica for the latest edition of the podcast, which is available to listen to now.

Listen to Football Daily via the 'Watch & Listen' tab at the top of this page.

Alternatively, click this link to listen via BBC Sounds.

Netherlands

Opta says there is a 5% chance of the Netherlands winning the World Cup - they are eighth most likely - and just a 10.33% chance of them reaching the final.

There's a 42.49% chance they will reach the quarter-final stage, but just a 19.62% likelihood they will progress to the semi-finals.

That's probably because as things stand the Netherlands could face competition favorites France in the last eight.

Image source, Getty Images

Opta have crunched the numbers and have some fresh predictions for us.

According to their supercomputer, France have a 14.86% chance of winning the World Cup, with Argentina just behind them with a 14.47% chance of defending their title.

Spain have a 12.57% chance, while England are in fourth with an 8.94% likelihood of lifting the trophy.

No other side in history has reached more men's World Cup semi-finals (5) or finals (3) without winning the World Cup.

Their three final appearances came in 1974, 1978 and 2010.

They were beaten by the hosts of the tournament twice in 1974 and 1978 - West Germany and Argentina respectively.

In 2010, Spain were the victors in the final in South Africa.

Will 2026 finally be their year?

Image source, Getty Images

The Netherlands seem to have clicked since head coach Ronald Koeman chose to start with Sunderland striker Brian Brobbey up front in their second match of this World Cup.

After being held by Japan in their opener, the Dutch have since swept aside Sweden and Tunisia.

A tougher challenge awaits against sixth-ranked Morocco in the last 32, while France or Germany could lie in wait in the quarter-finals and potentially Spain in the last four.

But if the Netherlands continue to build a head of steam, could they be potential champions?

Send us your thoughts on the Netherlands or your alternative favourites for the World Cup via the 'Get Involved' button.

Thanks.

Netherlands secured top spot - and a last-32 tie against Morocco - with a 3-1 win over Tunisia.

Japan and Sweden drew 1-1 in their final game, meaning both progressed to the last 32.

Japan took second place and will play Brazil in the next round, while Sweden progress as one of the best third-placed sides. Their opponents will be worked out in the next few days, but as things stand they will face France in the first knockout round.

Tunisia are eliminated after three defeats.

Sunderland's Brian Brobbey got his third goal of the tournament when he tapped in from close range after Virgil van Dijk nodded a delivery across the face of goal.

And with an average of 8.23, he was voted as your BBC Sport player of the match:

Adam Millington
BBC Sport journalist reporter

Two goals within the first seven minutes helped to guide the Netherlands to victory over Tunisia as they finished top of Group F.

Ronald Koeman's side were ahead before the clock had reached the three-minute mark as Tunisia captain Ellyes Skhiri turned a Denzel Dumfries cross into his own net.

Sunderland's Brian Brobbey then added the second, grabbing his third goal of the tournament, when he tapped in from close range after Virgil van Dijk nodded a delivery across the face of goal.

The Netherlands rarely needed to get out of first gear as they continued to get the better of a lacklustre Tunisia, dragging them out of position with ease and carving out chances.

But a defensive lapse allowed Tunisia to pull one back in the second half as Manchester City's Tijjani Reijnders lost track of his man from a corner, allowing Hazem Mastouri to send a header into the bottom corner.

Jan Paul van Hecke restored the Dutch's two-goal advantage as he nodded a corner towards goal at the near post which flicked off a Tunisia defender before going past the goalkeeper.

Tunisia finish bottom of Group F with three defeats, having conceded 12 goals in the process.

Not got time to watch the full highlights? Well at least make time for Anthony Elanga's "stunner" of a strike for Sweden.

Arsenal's Viktor Gyokeres found the Newcastle winger in space, Elanga cut inside and sent his curling effort flying into the far corner...