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Nadiem Amiri: Germany in no mood to ease off in final group game with Ecuador
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- Nadiem Amiri: Germany in no mood to ease off in final group game with Ecuador
Nadiem Amiri has insisted Germany will approach their last Group E game "like a final", despite having already qualified for the knockout stage.
The four-times winners will head into their showdown with Ecuador in New Jersey on Thursday already assured of top spot following their 7-1 demolition of minnows Curacao and a 2-1 victory over Ivory Coast .
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However, 29-year-old Mainz midfielder Amiri is adamant Julian Nagelsmann's side are in no mood to coast towards the last 32.
He told the German Football Association's official website: "We need to keep this momentum going. Winning breeds confidence.
"We owe it to the other sides to approach the game as though our own tournament depends on it. It's still a very important match.
"Lots of Germany fans will be in the stadium with many more watching back home. We want to win and we'll give it everything.
"I can't see Julian experimenting too much. We'll approach it like a final."
Whether or not Nagelsmann uses the depth of his squad remains to be seen, but he will have to make at least one change to the side which started against Ivory Coast.
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Borussia Dortmund central defender Nico Schlotterbeck 's tournament was ended by the medial ligament damage he suffered during the second half of that game, an injury which will rule him out for several months.
Amiri said: "It's been a real blow for all of us, but it has also made us even more determined to go far in this tournament for him.
"He's going through an incredibly difficult time. We need to be there for him, while also giving him the time and space to come to terms with it himself."
Ecuador's Piero Hincapie played alongside Germany's Nadiem Amiri at Bayer Leverkusen (Bradley Collyer/PA)
Ecuador arrived at the tournament with high hopes of making a significant impression after finishing second in qualification behind Argentina , three places better off than Brazil and having conceded only five goals in their 18 games.
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But a 1-0 defeat to Ivory Coast and a 0-0 draw with Curacao have left Sebastian Beccacece's side scrabbling for survival.
That said, Amiri knows from personal experience they have talent within their squad, having seen defender Piero Hincapie , a former Bayer Leverkusen team-mate now at Premier League champions Arsenal , at close hand.
He said: "Piero is a top player and is at Arsenal for a reason. Off the pitch, he's a lovely guy and a bit mad, while as a footballer he has unbelievable quality.
"Ecuador have a very good side, even if things haven't gone their way so far at this tournament. We'll have to make sure we're ready."
