A Bitter Defeat for the Ivorians

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(Bild: APA/Getty Images via AFP/GETTY IMAGES/ALEXANDER HASSENSTEIN)

Super sub Deniz Undav struck again. With two goals after coming off the bench, he secured a late 2-1 nail-biter for Germany against the Ivory Coast. With this win, the German national team has already secured its spot in the knockout stage.

In front of 43,036 spectators, it quickly became clear that the Africans were in a completely different league than Curaçao. The four-time world champions, fielding the same lineup, did have the better of the game and created several good scoring chances, such as a low header by Kai Havertz that goalkeeper Yahia Fofana made a fine save on (10th minute), or a shot by Jamal Musiala that narrowly missed the far post (18th minute). However, the Ivory Coast put up strong resistance and made life difficult for the Germans with their tenacity in one-on-one battles and good balance in their defensive play.

(Bild: AP/Frank Gunn)

Ivorians Battle Their Way to a Lead
After the water break, the West Africans began to pose a greater threat themselves and capitalized perfectly on a counterattack. Veteran Kessie, who once played for FC Barcelona and AC Milan, only had to tap in after a pass from Yan Diomande and a blocked attempt by Amad Diallo. Manuel Neuer, now the record-holder for World Cup appearances by a goalkeeper with 21, was beaten. The best chance to equalize came before halftime from Florian Wirtz, who, despite being in a good position, couldn’t manage a proper shot on goal (45’+7).

Substitutions brought new momentum to the German team
. After the break, Musiala was blocked (48'), and his team was lucky that two turnovers didn’t result in goals: first Kessie missed (50'), then Christ Oulai shortly after (51'). The German team struggled consistently with the opponent’s dynamic attacks, which dominated this phase of the game. Around the hour mark, Undav, Jamie Leweling, and Nadiem Amiri entered the game for Germany, and their resistance grew. Seven minutes later, Undav made his first impact.

Deniz Undav(Bild: AP/Chris Young)

Undav’s late winning goal
However, Germany was unable to truly capitalize on the momentum and remained largely harmless in the final third. The Ivory Coast, which had never before advanced beyond the World Cup group stage, was visibly tiring but continued to fight selflessly and missed a huge chance to retake the lead in the closing minutes because the unmarked Simon Adingra hesitated far too long (88'). At the other end, Fofana prevented Germany’s second goal with another strong save on a shot by Nathaniel Brown (89th), but was ultimately beaten in stoppage time by Undav’s third goal of this World Cup.

DFB Coach Julian Nagelsmann(Bild: GEPA)

“A thoroughbred striker”
“He’s simply a thoroughbred striker,”raved coach Julian Nagelsmann about the 29-year-old Undav, who was still playing in Germany’s third division six years ago and now has nine goals in eleven international matches. A starting spot for the Stuttgart striker is “absolutely within the realm of possibility,” Nagelsmann emphasized with regard to the final group stage match against Ecuador. “The emotional intensity today and the significance of the entire group” were what the 38-year-old particularly appreciated about his team’s second appearance. However, he is concerned about center back Nico Schlotterbeck, who suffered a knee injury and was substituted at halftime. “Unfortunately, it doesn’t look all that good,” Nagelsmann said.

World Cup in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, Group E (Round 2): 

Germany – Ivory Coast 2–1 (0–1)
Toronto, 43,036, Referee Benitez (PAR)

Goals: 0–1 (30') Kessie, 1–1 (68') Undav, 2–1 (94') Undav

Germany: Neuer – Kimmich, Tah, Schlotterbeck (46’ Rüdiger), Brown – Nmecha, Pavlovic (60’ Amiri) – Sane (60. Leweling), Musiala (60. Undav), Wirtz – Havertz (85. Goretzka)

Ivory Coast: Y. Fofana – Singo (82' Doue), Kossounou, Agbadou, Konan – Diallo (75' Adingra), Kessie, Sangare (75' S. Fofana), Y. Diomande (85' Pepe) – Bonny (75' Guessand), Oulai

Yellow cards: none