Germany's march towards nine points from nine in World Cup Group E was halted when Sunderland's Nilson Angulo, one of 17 Ecuador squad members from Independiente del Valle, cancelled out Leroy Sane's early opener with a spirited run and strike from distance. The 40-year-old Manuel Neuer was slow to react, beaten for the third consecutive game. Despite being group winners, Germany recorded zero clean sheets against Ecuador, Ivory Coast, and Curacao, the tournament's smallest-ever nation.
Neuer's Decline Raises Questions
Neuer, who retired after Euro 2024 and returned for this World Cup, is no longer the commanding presence he was during Germany's 2014 triumph in Brazil. With Hoffenheim's Oliver Baumann on the bench, doubts persist over whether Neuer remains Germany's best goalkeeper. His performance against Ecuador, where he was beaten by Gonzalo Plata's late corner after Kevin Rodriguez's flick-on, highlighted his declining reflexes.
Ronaldo's Vanity Tour
Cristiano Ronaldo, now 41, celebrated his brace against Uzbekistan as if Portugal had won the World Cup. He has transformed into a goal-hanger, relying on crosses and pullbacks, but debates rage over whether Portugal boss Roberto Martinez should bench him. Martinez dismisses the criticism, yet many argue that Ronaldo's presence deprives younger talents like Chelsea's Joao Pedro, who scored 20 goals last season but was snubbed by Carlo Ancelotti.
Record Over-40s Participation
This World Cup features a record number of over-40s, including Guillermo Ochoa, who made a 78th-minute cameo for Mexico against Czechia to claim a sixth World Cup appearance, sharing the record with Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Ochoa's appearance was seen as unsporting, a freebie rather than a meritocratic selection.
Integrity of the Greatest Show
Before Tuesday, Ronaldo had failed to score in ten consecutive major tournament appearances. An unfit Neymar, who hadn't played for Brazil since October 2023, was included in the squad despite looking likely to join Cincinnati FC. These selections undermine the integrity of the World Cup, which should feature today's stars, not yesterday's. As Ecuador avoided humiliation with a win over Germany, Neuer's errors underscored the cost of relying on the old guard.
