Ecuador vs Germany: Angulo steals the spotlight

Nilson Angulo was the standout in Ecuador's 2-1 comeback over Germany, finishing with an 8.2 rating, four successful dribbles and the equaliser. Leroy Sané put Germany ahead in the 2nd minute, but the game kept shifting after that and Angulo kept forcing it in Ecuador's direction.

Angulo's breakout performance

The best players usually make one decisive action. Angulo made several. He completed four successful dribbles, more than anyone else in the match, and turned his only shot on target into the equaliser in the 9th minute with a strike from outside the box.

That combination is why his 8.2 rating stands out so clearly. It was not just the goal, it was the way he kept carrying Ecuador up the pitch whenever they needed an outlet. Gonzalo Plata later scored the winner in the 77th minute after Kevin Rodríguez's header from a corner, but Angulo had already changed the feel of the match.

Germany's early lead did not hold

Germany had the start they wanted. Sané scored almost immediately, and the early goal should have settled them into the game. Instead, Ecuador answered quickly and then kept pressing until the comeback was complete.

Antonio Rüdiger played 90 minutes in his first start at the 2026 World Cup and completed 70 of 76 passes, including seven into the final third. It was tidy enough, but it did not stop Ecuador scoring twice or protect the lead Germany built inside two minutes. Ecuador vs Germany ended as a game defined by Angulo's quality and Germany's failure to hold the first blow.