Ecuador and Germany will play off for top spot in World Cup Group A on Tuesday after the South Americans beat Costa Rica 3-0 in Hamburg on Thursday.

Carlos Tenorio and Agustin Delgado did the damage in the win over Poland on the opening day and both were on target again as Ecuador and the hosts became the first nations through to the second round.

That means the final group game in Berlin is now a straight fight for the right to play the runners-up - and not the winners - of Group B, which England currently lead.

And if the match is drawn, then Ecuador will finish above Germany in the table due to their superior goal difference.

Alexander Guimaraes' men got off to a superb start against Costa Rica as Carlos Tenorio found the net after just eight minutes.

Luis Valencia's cross from the right found Carlos Tenorio inside the area and his bouncing header beat Costa Rica goalkeeper Jose Porras.

Aston Villa's Ulises De la Cruz could have netted Ecuador's second in the 41st minute, with his dangerous cross taking a deflection from Luis Marin and almost surprising the patrotically face-painted Porras, who recovered to make a fantastic save.

Delgado then missed a wonderful chance but made amends nine minutes after the restart.

The former Southampton striker drilled in a shot from the right side of the box after Edison Mendez had flicked the ball over the Costa Rican defence.

Ivan Kaviedes - who briefly plied his trade at Crystal Palace - had replaced Carlos Tenorio at half-time.

And after Alvaro Saborio had looped Costa Rica's best chance onto the woodwork, Kaviedes sealed victory when he stretched to meet a right-wing Mendez cross in the third minute of stoppage time.

It is the first time Ecuador have ever reached the knock-out stages of the World Cup - and now England will have a keen eye on that clash in Berlin next Tuesday.