Germany reached the knockout stage as group winners, but a surprising loss to Ecuador exposed differing opinions inside Julian Nagelsmann's squad.

Germany won their initial group at the World Cup, but do they deserve a positive grade after their loss to Ecuador?

Watch on BBC One, listen on 5 Live and follow live text commentary as already-qualified Germany face Ecuador at the World Cup.

Two teams with completely different journeys in the 2026 FIFA World Cup will meet in a final Group E clash on Thursday. Ecuador's tournament hopes are hanging by a thread, Germany are already through to the knockout rounds,

By Thomas Seythal BERLIN, June 27 (Reuters) - Germans braced for sweltering conditions on Saturday as a heatwave linked to dozens of deaths in Western Europe was forecast to move east and bring temperatures approaching 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) to Germany and Poland.

Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann (right) has been criticised by figures such as Jurgen Klopp Justin Setterfield/Getty Images Job done? For the first time since winning the tournament in 2014, Germany have qualified from a World Cup finals group to play ...

SportsLine's Jon Eimer reveals his Ecuador vs. Germany best bets for World Cup 2026 action on Thursday

Learn which TV channel or how to live stream the Ecuador and Germany FIFA World Cup match.

Germany recorded a provisional all-time temperature high of 41.3 degrees Celsius on Friday, the German Weather Service (DWD) said. The reading was measured at 5 pm (1500 GMT) in Saarbrücken, in the western state of Saarland,