World Cup Thursday tee-up: Germans will be keen to keep winning run going

Elsewhere the Netherlands would guarantee qualification with a win or a draw against Tunisia, who are already eliminated

GROUP WINNERS: Deniz Undav celebrates with his Germany teammates. Pic: Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images.

Group E: Curacao vs Ivory Coast, Philadelphia, 9pm; Ecuador vs Germany, New Jersey, 9pm

Germany are through as group winners and will now face a third-placed team from Groups A, B, C, D or F. 

Coach Julian ‌Nagelsmann will need to change his backline against Ecuador after starting centre back Nico Schlotterbeck was ruled out for the rest of the tournament with an ankle ligament injury he picked up in their 2-1 last-gasp win over Ivory Coast.

Antonio Ruediger, who replaced Schlotterbeck in that game, is likely to earn his first ​start of the tournament.

The Germans, however, ​are unlikely to take ​their foot off the ⁠gas with the team eager to keep up their winning run.

"We have to stay in ​the flow because every win is good for us," attacking midfielder Nadiem ​Amiri said.

"It ⁠is an extremely important match for us with a lot of fans coming from Germany so we want to win it 100% and we will go in with maximum intensity."

Ecuador need to beat Germany to have at least a third-place route and hope Curaçao defeat Ivory coast to finish second.

Ivory Coast need a point against Curaçao to guarantee qualification, while Curaçao must win to have at least a third-place route and hope Germany win or draw against Ecuador to finish second.

The Ivorian attack had chances against Germany but, in the end, lacked the necessary experience, coach ​Emerse Fae said.

"We're going to use that game as a lesson to ​try and fine-tune ⁠the mistakes, our shortcomings that we still have, and that will help us go as far as possible," he said.

Group F: Tunisia vs Netherlands, Kansas City 12am; Japan vs Sweden, Arlington, 12am.

The Netherlands would guarantee qualification with a win or a draw against Tunisia, who are already eliminated after two heavy losses and drafted in coach Herve Renard mid-tournament.

The Dutch are in a shootout with Japan for top spot but will look to manage several strikers carrying knocks. 

The form of striker Brian Brobbey, who scored twice in the 5-1 win over Swedan, has covered for the fact ​that Memphis Depay is still working his way back to full fitness from a thigh problem. Coach Ronald Koeman is keen to have him start, but Brobbey has proven an able deputy, though he is also ​carrying a slight hamstring problem.

The electric Crysencio Summerville could return to the starting line-up as a wide attacker, though he too received a blow to the head against the Swedes.

Japan would secure qualification with a draw or win against Sweden, while Sweden need to beat, though a draw would give them a level goal difference with a high goals scored tally so a good chance of a third-place route.

"They are without a doubt two of the strongest strikers in this tournament," Japan defender Shogo Taniguchi said of Swedish attacking duo Isak and Gyokeres.

"We have to disturb and make life uncomfortable for them. They have to feel that we are close to them at all times."

Group D: Turkey vs USA, Los Angeles, 3am Fri; Group D: Paraguay vs Australia, Santa Clara, 3am Fri.

There's a totally dead runner here with USA already through as group winners and Turkey out.

U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino has decisions to make, with forward Folarin Balogun, midfielder Tyler Adams and defenders Chris ​Richards and Antonee Robinson all carrying yellow cards. That could open the door for fringe players to press their case, while ​also giving Pochettino a chance to manage the fitness of talisman Christian Pulisic.

Australia would guarantee qualification with a draw or win against Paraguay. Paraguay need to beat Australia to be sure, but a draw would give them a chance of qualifying in third.

However Socceroos ​defender Jason Geria dismissed any idea both sides would settle for parity. "I think you're cheating the game in a way if you're ​looking to just call a truce with 10 minutes to go, that doesn't seem right in my opinion," he said.

"Yeah, we could ‌both ⁠progress with a point, that's evident, but I don't think it's in us to just concede or just take the foot off the gas."

Paraguay's Miguel Almiron will serve a one-game ​ban after he ‌received a red card for covering his mouth in a confrontation during their 1-0 ​win over Turkey in their ​second group game.

Reuters