Group E · Matchday 3

GermanyvsEcuador

2026-06-25·16:00 localPredictions finalised

Snapshot · 2026-07-14Model 1.0.0Final prediction · locked 25 Jun, 17:21 UTCGermany·Ecuador·Head-to-head →·
Full time · forecast gradedGermany 1 2 EcuadorThe locked pre-match forecast has been graded against this result.See the calibration recap →

The forecast

Match-outcome probability

  • Germany win
    41.5%
  • Draw
    29.8%
  • Ecuador win
    28.8%

A clash of identities: Germany's possession-dominant approach meets Ecuador's transition-heavy style in a fixture the model gives to Germany at 50%.

Likeliest score1–113.8%
First goal0-15'30.6%
Both teams score44.0%
Over 2.5 goals37.5%
Top scorerFüllkrug6.3%
Expected goals1.3 - 0.9
Loading pitch visualisation...

Why the model says this

Favoring Germany

  • ·Germany holds a significantly higher FIFA ranking at 9th, compared to Ecuador's 23rd.
  • ·Germany has won both previous encounters against Ecuador, with a combined score of 7-2 (4-2 in 2013, 3-0 in 2006).
  • ·Germany's expected goals (xG) output is 1.31, notably higher than Ecuador's 0.92 xG.
  • ·Germany enters the match on a six-game winning streak, scoring 19 goals and conceding only 4.

Favoring Ecuador

  • ·The Elo model component specifically projects Ecuador with a 40.4% win probability, higher than Germany's 37.6% in that particular sub-model.
  • ·Ecuador has proven difficult to defeat in recent matches, securing five draws in their last six outings.
  • ·Ecuador's style profile indicates a very high pressing intensity (86.2 percentile PPDA) and a highly direct attacking approach (93.8 percentile directness index).

What the model can't fully price

  • ·The model does not account for the fitness doubts of 3 players across both squads (2 for Germany, 1 for Ecuador), as its lineup channel currently contributes zero.
  • ·As a Group E Matchday 3 fixture, the specific motivation for each team based on their group standing and qualification scenarios is not explicitly factored into the probabilities.

Form check

Germany

Improving

Germany is in exceptional form, having secured six consecutive victories. During this period, they have demonstrated strong attacking prowess, scoring 19 goals, while maintaining a solid defensive record, conceding only 4.

6 consecutive wins

Ecuador

Steady

Ecuador has shown resilience in their recent fixtures, recording five draws and one win in their last six matches. While difficult to beat, their offensive output has been modest, with 6 goals scored over this period.

5 draws in 6 recent matches

Analysis

How it plays out

Germany's possession game against Ecuador's transition approach. Ecuador will concede the ball willingly and look to strike when Germany commit numbers forward. Germany will expect to hold 64% possession. Ecuador need their shape to stay compact without the ball and be clinical when they win it back.

What decides it

Germany's possession game (64% avg) requires patience in the final third and quick ball recovery when they lose it. Ecuador will concede possession willingly and attack in transition. Their defensive block needs to hold without fouling in dangerous areas. The scoring threat is evenly split: Niclas Füllkrug (6.5%) and Kevin Rodríguez (3.5%).

Off the pitch

No major off-pitch asymmetries. This one is decided by the football.

The angle

Likely the last World Cup for Enner Valencia. Tournament experience at this level is hard to quantify but hard to replace.

Goals & scorelines

Likeliest score 1–1 (13.8%) · xG 1.3 - 0.9

Expected goals

Germany
1.28
Ecuador
0.91

Mean of the Dixon-Coles joint goal distribution. Same fit that produces the most-likely-scoreline list below.

Most likely scorelines

  • 1–1
    13.8%
  • 1–0
    13.5%
  • 0–0
    12.0%
  • 0–1
    9.4%
  • 2–0
    9.1%

From the Dixon-Coles joint Poisson with the low-score correction. Scorelines are listed in probability order; this is a description of the model's distribution, not a recommendation.

Most likely half-time scorelines

  • 0–0
    34.0%
  • 1–0
    20.8%
  • 0–1
    14.7%
  • 1–1
    10.4%
  • 2–0
    6.8%

Same Dixon-Coles fit as the full-time list above, with rates halved to a 45-minute window and the low-score correction applied to that 1st-half block. The 0-0 row sits higher here than at full-time because fewer minutes have elapsed.

Goal totals

  • More than 0.5 goals
    88.0%
  • More than 1.5 goals
    65.2%
  • More than 2.5 goals
    37.5%
  • More than 3.5 goals
    17.9%
  • More than 4.5 goals
    7.2%
  • More than 5.5 goals
    2.5%
  • Both teams score
    44.0%

Each row is the probability the match finishes with more than the listed number of goals. Both-teams-to-score is the probability each side scores at least once. All values are marginals of the Dixon-Coles joint goal grid that produces the scoreline list above — not market lines or any other operator construct.

Event-typed probabilities

  • Germany clean sheetOpposing team scores zero40.1%
  • Ecuador clean sheetOpposing team scores zero27.8%

Derived from the same Dixon-Coles joint distribution as the scoreline list. These are descriptive event probabilities — see CLAUDE.md §3/§4 (formerly COMPLIANCE.md §4.2.7) for the framing the project uses.

Win-margin probability

  • Germany by 4+
    2.1%
  • Germany by 3+
    7.2%
  • Germany by 2+
    20.5%
  • Germany by 1+
    44.1%
  • Draw
    30.1%
  • Ecuador by 1+
    25.8%
  • Ecuador by 2+
    9.1%
  • Ecuador by 3+
    2.4%
  • Ecuador by 4+
    0.5%

Each row is the probability the match ends with the listed margin or larger in that direction. Marginal of the Dixon-Coles joint goal grid; the “by 1+” rows plus the draw row sum to 1.

How the match unfolds

Over 2.5 goals 37.5% · BTTS 44.0%

Game state through the match

0%25%50%75%100%0'15'30'45'60'75'90'
  • Germany ahead44.9%
  • Level28.5%
  • Ecuador ahead26.6%

Probability of each game state at minutes 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90 — derived from two independent thinned-Poisson processes with the Dixon-Coles per-team rates. The three lines always sum to 1 at each minute. The right column shows the state at the match's closing minute.

When the first goal arrives

  • 0–15
    30.6%
  • 15–30
    21.2%
  • 30–45
    14.7%
  • 45–60
    10.2%
  • 60–75
    7.1%
  • 75–90
    4.9%
  • No goal
    11.2%

Probability the match's first goal arrives in each 15-minute window. Homogeneous Poisson with combined rate λ = λh + λa from the Dixon-Coles fit; the seven rows (six windows + no-goal tail) sum to 1.

Half-time / full-time grid

Joint probability of half-time and full-time results
HT ↓ / FT →HGermany winDDrawAEcuador win
HGermany ahead27.8%4.5%1.1%
DLevel15.3%19.8%10.0%
AEcuador ahead1.7%4.5%15.3%

Each cell is P(half-time result, full-time result). All nine cells sum to 1. Derived from a halved-λ Dixon-Coles fit for the first half plus an independent-Poisson second-half convolution.

Comeback probability

  • Germany trail at HT, avoid defeat at FT
    6.2%
  • Ecuador trail at HT, avoid defeat at FT
    5.7%

Joint probability — P(side trailing at half-time AND avoiding defeat at full-time). NOT conditional on trailing at HT. Derived from the same half-time / full-time decomposition that produces the HT/FT grid above; a tied first half is neither a home nor an away comeback opportunity.

Cards

  • Expected yellow cardsMean of the Poisson on total yellow cards.3.45
  • Total yellows over 2.567.0%
  • Total yellows over 3.545.3%
  • Total yellows over 4.526.5%
  • Any red cardP(at least one red card in the match).9.5%

Referee not yet assigned. Using the 2026 pool-mean per-match rate as a placeholder; the model picks up the referee's personal rate once the assignment is published. Total yellow cards modelled as a Poisson with mean equal to two team baselines plus the referee's deviation from the pool mean. Reds are modelled the same way, independently. See /docs/methodology/.

Teams & players

Top scorer: Füllkrug (6.3%)

Match detail

Germany

Model-rated key players: Niclas Füllkrug (FW) — P(scores) 6.3%; Leroy Sané (FW) — P(scores) 3.9%; Kai Havertz (FW) — P(scores) 3.8%.

How they play

Germany under Julian Nagelsmann play a possession dominant game, holding 64% of the ball — among the highest in the tournament field. Their likely shape is a 4-2-3-1. They apply moderate pressing intensity (PPDA 17.8) and build patiently through midfield with 8.6 passes per attacking sequence. They generate a high volume of shots (17.4 per 90).

What they must execute

To succeed, Germany must control tempo and territory in midfield — their possession-dominant approach depends on dictating the rhythm of each match. Managing the fitness of Florian Wirtz could prove decisive — their availability transforms the team's ceiling.

Storylines
Out injured: Florian WirtzStomach problems, no expected return. Composite 0.98 — would have been a likely starter.
Veteran #1: wp-manuel-neuer-1986-03-2740 at kickoff with 124 caps — last World Cup for the #1.
Club core: 7 of 24 predicted-squad players play their club football for Bayern Munich — a single-club spine on the international side.

Ecuador

Model-rated key players: Kevin Rodríguez (FW) — P(scores) 3.5%; Enner Valencia (FW) — P(scores) 2.9%; Nilson Angulo (FW) — P(scores) 1.8%.

How they play

Ecuador under Sebastián Beccacece play a transition heavy game with 47% possession. Their likely shape is a 4-3-3, though they have also used 4-4-2 and other. They press intensely (PPDA 16.5, top quartile (6th of 40)) and move the ball forward quickly at 5.2 passes per attack. They favour high-quality chances (xG/shot 0.140, among the best in the field).

What they must execute

Ecuador rely on defensive discipline and quick transitions — absorbing pressure and converting turnovers into attacking chances. Concentration and defensive organisation for full 90-minute stretches will determine whether the approach holds against top opposition. Managing minutes for Enner Valencia across what could be seven matches will test the coaching staff's rotation planning.

Storylines
Teen starter: wp-deinner-ordonez-2009-10-2916 at kickoff — 0 caps — projected on the bench, the squad's youngest pick.
Last dance: Enner Valencia36 at kickoff with 105 caps — probably his final World Cup.
Thin at GK: Top pool goalkeeper Hernán Galíndez rates only 0.44 on club save metrics (the field's top sides sit at 0.85+) — a thin position group going into the tournament.
Workload going in

Germany's predicted XI averages 2,067 club minutes over the 2024-25 season (moderate load).

Germany coverage: 88.0% (10/11 XI matched against the FBref Big-5) · Ecuador: 23.0% (4/11).

Set-piece outlook

Germany historically converts 14.8% of xG from set-pieces, contributing 0.19 expected set-piece goals in this fixture. Ecuador converts 10.3% from set-pieces (0.09 expected). Combined, the model expects 0.28 set-piece goals across the 90 minutes.

  • P(Germany scores set-piece goal) 17.2%
  • P(Ecuador scores set-piece goal) 9.0%
  • P(set-piece goal in match) 24.6%

Germany: Joshua Kimmich on corners (62 corners) (per fbref 2022 23)

Penalty outlook

If a penalty is awarded to Germany, the model gives 78.2% conversion, 72.0% for Ecuador.

Germany primary PK: Niclas Füllkrug (3/3 in 2022-23, per fbref 2022 23).

Derived from the model's per-fixture forecast joint and supporting reference data (predicted squads, set-piece xG share, PK posteriors, club minutes). See /docs/methodology/ for the full methodology.

Tactical forecast

Germanypossession-dominant
PPDA
17.8
Possession
64%
Directness (yds/pass)
4.4
Long balls/90
28
Set-piece xG
15%
Ecuadortransition-heavy
PPDA
16.5
Possession
47%
Directness (yds/pass)
7.9
Long balls/90
43
Set-piece xG
10%

Style profile per side from StatsBomb open-data aggregation across recent international tournaments (Euro 2020/2024, Copa America 2024, AFCON 2023, World Cup 2018/2022). The tactical-fingerprint badge maps each team’s observed style vector into one of eight canonical archetypes via a rule-based classifier; teams with fewer than three matches of qualifying coverage carry an “insufficient-data” label rather than being forced into a default. Sides outside the StatsBomb-open corpus use FotMob team match stats from recent qualifiers and friendlies instead (possession and shot volume only), marked as partial coverage. PPDA = passes the side allows per defensive action (lower = more intense press). Formation distributions are not yet produced — that head of the §2.7 classifier is pending its own data pull. See /docs/methodology/.

Squad depth

Most irreplaceable starters

Germany

  1. Deniz UndavStrikerCover: Maximilian Beier · 0.680.25gap
  2. Leroy SanéWingerCover: Jamie Leweling · 0.730.18gap
  3. Kai HavertzStrikerCover: Maximilian Beier · 0.680.17gap

Ecuador

  1. Joel OrdóñezCentre-backCover: Jackson Porozo · 0.050.80gap
  2. Félix TorresCentre-backCover: Jackson Porozo · 0.050.57gap
  3. Moisés CaicedoDefensive midfieldNo natural backup0.32gap

Gap = how far a side's rating at the position falls from the starter to his likely in-squad replacement (named under each name). Larger = harder to replace. Descriptive metric, does not feed the published probabilities. Methodology →

Match conditions

  • AltitudeNear sea level7 m
  • Avg temperatureFive-year mean over the tournament window23.8 °C
  • Avg humidity71%
  • Heat stressShade WBGT ~25.7 °CLow heat stress
  • Pitch surfacetemporary natural grass over artificial turf

Artificial-turf NFL stadium; a temporary hybrid natural-grass pitch is being installed over the turf for the tournament, including the final.

Heat stress is a shade Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature proxy from the venue's climatology mean temperature and humidity; FIFA mandates cooling breaks at WBGT 32 °C. Afternoon kickoff (local time). These are long-window averages, not a match-day forecast, and they are not inputs to the forecast.

Top scorers · P(scores in this match)

Germany

Per-player scoring rate from Model #5 (`p_score_per_match`). Reflects each player's npxG/90, expected minutes, team xG share, and the average opposing-team defence. See /docs/methodology/.

Recent match form

Last match player ratings

Germany

vs Paraguay · avg 5.5

8
Kai HavertzST
ATK
DEF
PAS
7
Joshua KimmichCM
ATK
DEF
PAS
4
Manuel NeuerGK
ATK
DEF
PAS
3
Jonathan TahCB
ATK
DEF
PAS

Worked well: Their persistence led to an equalizer, and they generated several dangerous opportunities from crosses and corners.

Struggled: They struggled to convert their attacking pressure into clear goals, missing several chances and having one disallowed. A crucial penalty miss proved costly.

Ecuador

vs Mexico · avg 6.0

8
Hernán GalíndezGK
ATK
DEF
PAS
7
Yeboah ZamoraST
ATK
DEF
PAS
6
Jordy CaicedoST
ATK
DEF
PAS
3
Piero HincapiéCB
ATK
DEF
PAS

Player scores from official highlight analysis of each team's most recent match. Observational, not a model input. Methodology →

Video analysis: player performance

Per-player ratings and event breakdowns from official highlights analysis. Tap a player to see their full match timeline.

Germany
8
Wirtz12'–12'

Scored Germany's opening goal with a clinical finish, showcasing excellent positioning and attacking prowess.

1goals

Match timeline

12'Germany scores. Wirtz finds the net after a precise pass from Pavlovic.
8
Rodriguez

Scored the decisive winning goal from a corner kick, proving to be a match-winner for Ecuador.

8
Ecuador GK

Made multiple crucial saves, particularly from headers and a late shot, to secure Ecuador's victory and maintain their lead.

7
Neuer56'–116'

Made several crucial saves to keep Germany in the match, despite ultimately conceding two goals.

3saves

Match timeline

56'Germany's goalkeeper Neuer denies Valencia's shot.
112'Neuer makes a save from Angulo's shot.
116'Neuer again saves a shot from Angulo.
6
Havertz43'–101'

Despite getting into good scoring positions and having multiple header attempts, he was unable to convert his chances.

2shots2on target2headers

Match timeline

43'Ecuador's goalkeeper makes a crucial stop from a Havertz header.
43'Ecuador's goalkeeper makes a crucial stop from a Havertz header.
101'Ecuador's goalkeeper saves another header from Havertz.
101'Ecuador's goalkeeper saves another header from Havertz.
Ecuador
9
Angulo24'–116'

Scored a brilliant equalizer with individual skill and was a constant offensive threat, testing the German goalkeeper multiple times.

1goals2shots2on target

Match timeline

24'Ecuador equalizes. Angulo dribbles past a defender and scores a superb goal.
112'Neuer makes a save from Angulo's shot.
116'Neuer again saves a shot from Angulo.
8
Vite

Delivered the corner kick that directly led to Ecuador's winning goal, showcasing his excellent set-piece delivery.

Match timeline

6
Valencia56'–56'

Contributed to Ecuador's attack with a shot on target that tested the German goalkeeper.

1shots1on target

Match timeline

56'Germany's goalkeeper Neuer denies Valencia's shot.
6
Sane

Involved in an attacking sequence with a shot attempt that was blocked, showing offensive intent.

6
Gross

Had a late attempt on goal that was saved, demonstrating his willingness to contribute offensively.

Match observations

  • The match was a high-energy contest with both teams demonstrating strong attacking intent.
  • Germany took an early lead, but Ecuador responded well, showcasing individual skill and capitalizing on set-pieces.
  • Both goalkeepers were called into action multiple times, making significant interventions.

Under the hood

Model-by-model comparison

Germany vs Ecuador

High disagreement (10.3%)
ModelWeightHomeDrawAway
EloRating-based strength estimate32%
42.2%
22.0%
35.8%
Dixon-ColesGoal-process model with low-score correction63%
44.5%
30.0%
25.6%
Hierarchical PoissonBayesian model with confederation pooling6%
45.4%
28.8%
25.8%
Bayesian stackingLearned-weight combination
45.8%
28.8%
25.4%
Ensemble (published)Uniform average + isotonic calibration
50.1%
26.6%
23.3%
Home spread: 3.3%
Draw spread: 8.0%
Away spread: 10.3%
How each model works
Elo
Each team carries a single strength rating updated after every match by a margin-aware K-factor. Match probabilities come from the logistic function of the rating gap. Elo is fast-adapting but coarse — it sees only who won and by how much, not how the goals were scored.
Dixon-Coles
A Poisson regression on team-level attack and defence parameters, fitted via maximum likelihood with an exponential time-decay weighting. The Dixon-Coles correction adjusts the four low-score cells (0-0, 1-0, 0-1, 1-1) where independent Poisson underestimates dependence. Produces full scoreline distributions, not just H/D/A.
Hierarchical Poisson
A Bayesian Poisson model fitted via MCMC (PyMC) with hierarchical priors that pool attack and defence parameters within confederations. Shrinks small-sample teams toward their confederation mean — helpful for nations with few recent competitive fixtures. Slower to fit but better-calibrated on the tails.
Bayesian stacking
Optimises simplex weights (w_elo, w_dc, w_hp) to maximise the leave-one-out log-score across a walk-forward backtest (Yao et al. 2018). The result is a weighted average of the three component models' probabilities, then isotonic-calibrated. Adds no extra features — just learns which component to trust more from historical accuracy.
Ensemble (published)
Equal-weight average of all three component models, followed by per-class isotonic regression calibration fitted on 24 months of walk-forward out-of-fold predictions. This is the probability published on the site. The uniform mean is deliberately simple — it avoids overfitting to the stacking weights' training window.

Three independent component models feed two combination strategies. The uniform ensemble is the published probability; Bayesian stacking uses learned weights. Amber bars flag >5pp divergence from the published number. Full methodology

Probability decomposition (transparency surface)

  • Baseline ensemble — P(Germany win)41.1%
  • + Lineup contribution0.0pp
  • + Style-matchup contribution0.0pp
  • Published P(Germany win)41.1%
Germany
41.1%
Draw
26.9%
Ecuador
32.0%

Decomposition of the published P(Germany win) into the calibrated- baseline plus contributions from the §2.3 expected-XI lineup delta and the §2.7 style-matchup interaction. The §2.7 roadmap is explicit that style effects are second-order to team strength — single-digit-percentage P(win) shifts on extreme style matchups, near-zero on balanced ones. We surface the decomposition for transparency even when the contributions are small; the baseline carries the prediction. Methodology: /docs/methodology.

For this fixture both contributions round to under 0.05pp — the fitted style-matchup pair effect is in the small-magnitude regime the model expects to dominate.

Head-to-head history

DateCompetitionVenueScoreResultxG
29 May 2013FriendlyNBoca Raton42W
20 Jun 2006FIFA World CupHBerlin30W

Germany vs Ecuador, every senior international meeting in the martj42 results dataset (score from Germany's perspective; H/A/N = home/away/neutral).

Latest news & match context

Team news

No recent headlines for Germany or Ecuador.

Match conditions
Stage:
Group E · Matchday 3
Date:
25 Jun
Availability

Germany

Germany come in at close to full strength.

Ecuador

Ecuador come in at close to full strength.

What it means

Germany and Ecuador both come in at close to full strength, so the forecast rests on baseline team strength rather than late team-news swings.

Availability from the predicted squads and injury feed; forecast adjustments from the model's own decomposition. See /docs/methodology/.

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