Klose grabbed his first when the Ecuador defence failed to clear a corner and the ball fell to Per Mertesacker on the left. He hooked it back across goal, Bastian Schweinsteiger laid it back and Klose pounced.

The goal, the first conceded by Ecuador in these finals, seemed to resign the Ecuadoreans to their fate and Germany, the three-times World Cup winners, continued to create chances.

Klose made it two with a fine finish. Ballack chipped through, Klose held off his marker and took the ball round goalkeeper Cristian Mora before slipping the ball into an empty net.

Edwin Tenorio and Edison Mendez brought saves from Jens Lehmann after the break but Germany had a 72,000 full house cheering again through Podolski's sliding finish for the third.

Second place in the group is still a triumph for Ecuador, who were eliminated in the first round on their first appearance at the finals in 2002.