What options do Germany have to rotate against Ecuador at the FIFA World Cup 2026?
Two wins from two have ensured that Germany are already confirmed as winners of Group E at the FIFA World Cup 2026 and will advance to the round of 32. Does that mean Julian Nagelsmann will rotate in the last group game against Ecuador? And what are his options?
Germany fielded the same starting XI in both victories over Curaçao (7-1) and Côte d’Ivoire (2-1):
Germany: Neuer – Kimmich (c), Tah, Schlotterbeck, Brown – Pavlović, Nmecha – Sané, Musiala, Wirtz – Havertz
Substitutes vs. Curaçao: Undav (64’), Goretzka (73’), Rüdiger (73’), Raum (73’), Anton (83’)
Substitutes vs. Côte d’Ivoire: Rüdiger (46’), Amiri (60’), Undav (60’), Leweling (60’), Goretzka (85’)
With first place assured, might Nagelsmann give the rest of his squad an opportunity to prove themselves against Ecuador ahead of the knockout stage?
Germany’s options:
Goalkeepers
Oliver Baumann: The 36-year-old Hoffenheim captain played every minute of World Cup qualifying before losing his place to the returning Manuel Neuer.
Alexander Nübel: The 29-year-old, on loan at VfB Stuttgart for the past three seasons, won his third cap in March’s friendly against Ghana.
Defenders:
Antonio Rüdiger: The Real Madrid centre-back was the half-time replacement for the injured Nico Schlotterbeck against Côte d’Ivoire to win his 84th cap.
Waldemar Anton: The 29-year-old missed only 180 minutes of Borussia Dortmund’s Bundesliga campaign. The centre-back has 14 caps and started twice in qualifying.
Malick Thiaw: The 24-year-old was first-choice centre-back for Newcastle United last season and earned the most recent of his five senior caps in qualifying. He’s yet to appear at this World Cup.
David Raum: The RB Leipzig captain had been Germany’s main left-back during qualifying but lost his spot to Nathaniel Brown at the World Cup.
Watch: Raum's World Cup journey in our Bundesliga Original Series
Midfielders:
Leon Goretzka: The 31-year-old has appeared in all but one Germany game since 2025 and had an excellent season in his final year at Bayern Munich, competing with Aleksandar Pavlović to play alongside Joshua Kimmich.
Nadiem Amiri: The Mainz playmaker returned to the Germany fold in qualifying and came off the bench to set up Deniz Undav’s equaliser against Côte d’Ivoire.
Angelo Stiller: Only three of the Stuttgart midfielder’s eight senior caps have been starts in competitive fixtures. He’s yet to appear at this World Cup.
Pascal Groß: The 35-year-old Brighton man won his last cap in March and is mainly seen as back-up right-back for this tournament, where he’s yet to feature.
Assan Ouédraogo: The 20-year-old Leipzig midfielder earned his only senior cap in the final game of qualifying and was a late call-up to the World Cup to replace the injured Lennart Karl.
Watch: All Amiri's Bundesliga assists for Mainz
Attackers:
Jamie Leweling: The Stuttgart winger replaced Leroy Sané for the final 30 minutes against Côte d’Ivoire to make his World Cup debut and win his sixth cap.
Maximilian Beier: A striker by nature, the 23-year-old Dortmund man is mainly used wide left at club level. He’s yet to score in nine senior caps.
Strikers:
Deniz Undav: The top-scoring German across Europe last season has made a big impact already at the World Cup with three goals off the bench. The Stuttgart man has netted nine times across his 11 international appearances.
Watch: Undav's 19 Bundesliga goals last season
Nick Woltemade: The 6’6’’ striker got eight goals in the English Premier League for Newcastle last season and has four in 11 Germany outings but is yet to feature at this summer’s finals.
