Monday will be family day at the German World Cup camp and the mood is expected to be excellent before coach Julian Nagelsmann faces important decisions for the next match and beyond.
A last-gasp winner from super-sub Deniz Undav saw the team beat Ivory Coast 2-1 on Saturday to follow up on an opening 7-1 victory against Curaçao.
And Ecuador's 0-0 draw against Curaçao later in the day meant that Germany are assured of finishing top of Group E, regardless of the outcome of the final group match against Ecuador, for which preparations will only start after family day.
"We will stick to it," coach Julian Nagelsmann said of visit by the players' partners and children. "It gives the lads strength. It gives all of us strength when we see our families."
Memories of 2006
It also boosts the team that Germany have advanced to the knock-outs for the first time since 2014 after shameful group stage exits in 2018 and 2022.
Germany won their first two matches for the first time since the home tournament in 2006. There it also took a very late goal, from Oliver Neuville, against Poland in the second match.
That goal was seen as a key moment in Germany's run to third place in the end - and Undav's second strike of the night against the Ivorians could have a similar effect.
Germany becoming Germany again
"Germany is more and more becoming Germany again. Against Curaçao it played like in its heydays and scored seven goals with Brazilian flair. Against Ivory Coast the team then had to show its typical character and resilience," Spanish sports paper AS said in admiration.
Undav agreed that "we showed great character" and that "we want to achive the best possible result - and that is the title. We are giving our all for that, that is the main aim."
Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, the last survivor from the 2014 team that won the title, said: "The team always plays to win. The belief is there. We have the right mentality again."
Nagelsmann decisions
Germany has now made up for the 2018 and 2022 in a first step and the second step was also achieved by winning the group, even if that means that top title favourites France could be their opponents in a possible round of 16 match.
"We can't influence the other groups. We will face good teams anyway, some sooner, some later. And all teams we face are good teams in the first place," Nagelsmann has said.
Nagelsmann must now decide on how to approach the game with Ecuador which is now a dead rubber for them, whether to rest some players or not, and whom to give a chance to start.
"I just can’t see the point – when I’ve got 26 players in the squad, why should I always leave them to rot on the bench when they’re all good and want to play?" he has said in general terms.
The Undav dilemma
The biggest question is VfB Stuttgart marksman Undav who came on in both games and now has three goals and two assists after his brace in the comeback win against Ivory Coast, and nine goals from 11 Germany caps overall.
Undav can replace several others up front, including jamal Musiala or Kai Havertz. Sporting director Rudi Völler said before the tournament that Arsenal's Havertz would probably not play every game because he had several injury setbacks during the season.
"Now the question comes up: Will he ever start? That's definitely a possibility, but he's fulfilling his role incredibly well," Nagelsmann told broadcasters ZDF.
"As a coach, you can consider all possibilities. You could say, 'let him stay in his groove, let him stay in that role, because he's been scoring.' It’s possible either way."
Nagelsmann was speaking before Germany were confirmed as group winners which gives him more options. He said he would discuss it with Undav who for his part doesn't want to get involved in the debate.
"We have a common goal, and if it's working this well right now, as I said, it's thanks to the national team coach," Undav said.
"He makes the decisions, and I think it's just important for him, and also for the players coming off the bench and those who are playing, that they see that anyone who comes in can make an impact and change the game."
Sweating on Schlotterbeck
While the Undav issue is a luxury problem of sorts for Nagelsmann there is concern around centre back Nico Schlotterbeck who sustained what appeared to be an ankle ligament injury early on Saturday and did not return for the second half.
A diagnosis was expected later on Sunday but Nagelsmann can consider himself lucky to have Real Madrid's Antonio Rüdiger in the squad who came on for Schlotterbeck against the Ivorians.
"It doesn't look too good," Nagelsmann said shortly after the match.
