Germany leads Group E after a convincing 7-1 victory over World Cup debutants Curacao. Level on points behind them is Ivory Coast, the next opponent on Saturday. At the expanded 48-team World Cup, not only group winners and runners-up advance, but also eight of the twelve best third-placed teams.
If Germany beats Ivory Coast, the DFB side would reach the round of 32 early with six points. Even a draw would make advancement very likely: thanks to the big win against Curacao, Germany would have a good goal difference in a potential four-team comparison with four points. Only a defeat theoretically threatens elimination — from group win to last place, everything is then possible.
As group winners, Germany would face a third-placed team in Boston on June 29; as runners-up, they would meet the second-placed team from Group I in Dallas on June 30.
Source: www.zdfheute.de
