Germany 2-1 Ivory Coast: supersub Undav rescues Germany as Ivory Coast suffer Singo heartbreak

Ivory Coast took the pb but were turned implicit by Germany 2-1 connected Saturday successful Toronto successful the Group E showdown astatine World Cup 2026. A brace from substitute Deniz Undav qualified a Germany broadside that had struggled for overmuch of the contention to find answers.

After their respective victories over Curacao (7-1) and Ecuador (1-0), Germany and Ivory Coast met successful Toronto for what was a top-of-the-group encounter.

It seemed arsenic though the archetypal large daze of World Cup 2026 was astir to unfold erstwhile Ivory Coast took the pb — but past came Undav, the Stuttgart substitute whose decisive cameo turned the necktie connected its caput and sent Germany through.

Germany 2-1 Ivory Coast: What happened?

The opening stages were balanced, but it was Germany who created the earliest openings — a Havertz header was kept retired by Yahia Fofana, and a Pavlovic extremity was disallowed for a situation connected the Ivory Coast goalkeeper.

As the fractional wore on, however, Germany began to suffer an expanding fig of duels, and Ivory Coast punished them by taking the pb done Kessie, who finished a Yan Diomande transportation astatine the 2nd effort successful the 30th minute.

The archetypal #FIFAWorldCup extremity for Franck Kessie ☝️?? pic.twitter.com/iZ9uWoOPWT

Rather than adjusting, Germany continued to importune connected attacking done the centre, precisely wherever the Ivory Coast's carnal beingness was astir dominant, alternatively of switching the play wide. Their difficulties deepened aft the break, erstwhile the 2024 AFCON winners could person extended their pb with much objective finishing successful the area.

As the minutes passed, German unit gradually built against an progressively antiaircraft Ivory Coast, and the 2 substitutes made the difference: Amiri crossed for Undav, who equalised successful the 68th minute. In a much disjointed closing stretch, Yahia Fofana produced 2 fantabulous saves earlier Undav seized connected a walk from Nmecha to interruption Ivory Coast hearts successful the 4th infinitesimal of stoppage time.

Germany 2-1 Ivory Coast: The cardinal talking constituent — Deniz Undav's match-winning cameo

The Stuttgart guardant was the second-highest scorer successful past season's Bundesliga down Harry Kane, and had already made his people against Curacao with a extremity and 2 assists. Once again, it was Undav who lit up the contest, showcasing his instinct and positional quality to find himself successful precisely the close spot astatine precisely the close infinitesimal — archetypal to level, past to triumph it. Nagelsmann whitethorn good privation to reconsider whether helium continues to usage him purely arsenic a luxury substitute.

The tragic moment: Singo successful tears

Wilfried Singo had delivered different energetic show connected the close broadside of Ivory Coast's signifier when, successful the 80th minute, helium abruptly stopped during a situation with Havertz on the touchline. The Galatasaray antheral clutched the backmost of his near thigh earlier sitting down connected the seat successful tears. His engagement successful the remainder of World Cup 2026 whitethorn beryllium successful superior doubt.

The controversy: Germany's 2 disallowed goals

Germany believed they had scored doubly successful the archetypal half. From a Kimmich corner, Pavlovic thought helium had headed home, but his situation connected Fofana — who was gathering the shot — prompted Paraguayan referee Juan Gabriel Benitez to regularisation it out. The determination enraged Germany but was broadly correct, goalkeepers being mostly afforded extortion by the laws of the crippled successful specified situations.

Germany are locked successful for the Round of 32 ?#FIFAWorldCup

Subsequently, Havertz's equaliser was besides disallowed for a anterior foul by Musiala connected Kossounou. The infringement was clear, but Benitez's determination to let play to proceed earlier yet blowing his whistle generated further controversy.

Germany 2-1 Ivory Coast: Key stat

Saturday's triumph was Germany's archetypal back-to-back triumph astatine the World Cup since 2014. Nagelsmann's broadside had been eliminated successful the radical signifier successful each of the 2 erstwhile editions.

What happens next?

The triumph sends Germany into the circular of 32, advancing from the radical signifier for the archetypal clip successful 12 years.

For Ivory Coast, the absorption indispensable present displacement to processing a profoundly frustrating effect and gathering connected the convincing show they produced for an hour. Qualification remains good wrong scope connected Thursday against Curacao.