Germany is back in the World Cup knockout stages for the first time in over a decade, thanks to a thrilling 2-1 victory over Côte d’Ivoire on Saturday. The match featured Franck Kessié’s opening goal for the Ivorians in the 30th minute, which was equalized by Deniz Undav in the 68th minute before he netted the dramatic winner in the 94th.
With this win, Germany, a four-time world champion, secured six points, although this young squad faced a significantly tougher challenge compared to their 7-1 victory against Curaçao just six days prior.
Historically, Germany had never been eliminated from the group stage before 2018, boasting a record of 13 semi-final appearances—only Brazil trails with 11. However, their performances in Russia and Qatar saw them exit at the group stage, leading to concerns about their capabilities in this expanded tournament featuring 48 teams.
Before heading to the United States, the team had several worries, including the lack of a standout striker, the form of Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz, injuries sidelining Serge Gnabry and Lennart Karl, and a returning Manuel Neuer, who had been coaxed out of nearly two years of retirement to address the goalkeeper crisis. Furthermore, doubts lingered about Julian Nagelsmann’s effectiveness as head coach, following mixed reviews during his tenure at Bayern Munich.
The team also faced criticism from fans who appeared disinterested in their performance and the ongoing tournament. Despite this, an unchanged German side looked lively early on, nearly scoring just 15 seconds into the match when Kai Havertz’s shot went high. Joshua Kimmich’s cross found Havertz again, but his header was brilliantly saved by Yahia Fofana, while Musiala missed a chance from the edge of the box.
In the 21st minute, a powerful strike from Felix Nmecha was deflected over the goal, and on the ensuing corner, Aleksandar Pavlović’s header appeared to put Germany ahead, but it was ruled out for a foul on Fofana. Amid the delay for Fofana’s treatment, the players took a brief hydration break, although Paraguayan referee Juan Gabriel Benítez deemed it an inappropriate moment for such a pause, prompting jeers from the crowd.
After the unscheduled break, the momentum shifted. In the 30th minute, Yan Diomande, a standout 19-year-old, made progress down the left wing, setting up Amad Diallo. Although Diallo’s effort was blocked, Kessié was quick to capitalize on the rebound, scoring to give Côte d’Ivoire a surprising lead.
Germany, visibly shaken by the goal, intensified their efforts following a second disallowed goal, with Musiala penalized for a foul on Odilon Kossounou before Havertz found the net. As the Ivorians absorbed pressure, they looked to counter, but their efforts lacked precision, keeping the match tightly contested.
Germany’s attempts at a breakthrough were often thwarted, including a long-range shot from Antonio Rüdiger that sailed into the crowd. However, Nagelsmann orchestrated a tactical shift with a triple substitution around the hour mark, injecting new energy into the team.
By the 69th minute, the pressure on the Ivorian goal mounted, ultimately leading to Undav’s equalizer, volleyed in from close range after receiving a pass from Nadiem Amiri. From that point on, the game was largely one-sided as Côte d’Ivoire struggled to maintain their earlier form.
In a frenetic finish, Côte d’Ivoire nearly found a late equalizer, but Simon Adingra hesitated on a break. At the other end, Fofana denied Brown, and Amiri’s open shot was directed straight at the goalkeeper. Finally, Undav secured the win, firing past Fofana, much to the relief of the German supporters.
The German team prides itself on being a “turniermannschaft,” or a team adept at tournament play. Their progression to the knockout stage for the first time since their 2014 triumph is a significant achievement.
