2026 FIFA World Cup — Group E, Matchday 2 | June 20 | BMO Field, Toronto

TORONTO — In the 30th minute, Ivory Coast struck first. Yann Diomande burst down the left flank, delivered a cross, and Amad Diallo’s close-range shot was parried by Manuel Neuer. Franck Kessie was there for the rebound. 1-0.

In the 68th minute, substitute Nadiem Amiri swung in a cross from the right. Deniz Undav, also a substitute, met it with a thumping header. 1-1.

In the 94th minute, the last moment of stoppage time. Felix Nmecha slipped a through ball into the box. Undav collected it, turned, and fired. The ball smashed into the net. 2-1.

Germany had escaped.

Undav’s 94th-Minute Winner: Germany Stun Ivory Coast 2-1 to Seal Round of 32

The First Half: Germany’s Frustration

Julian Nagelsmann set Germany up in a 3-4-3, with Leroy Sane, Kai Havertz, and Florian Wirtz leading the line. For the first 30 minutes, Germany had nearly 60 percent possession. But genuine chances were scarce. Sane kept trying to dribble past defenders on the right, and kept getting muscled off the ball. Wirtz tried to thread passes in tight spaces. Jamal Musiala tried to weave through defenders. But Ivory Coast’s five-man midfield was a black wall — every physical duel went their way.

In the 22nd minute, Nathaniel Brown’s corner found Aleksandar Pavlovic, whose header found the net. But the referee ruled it out — a foul on the goalkeeper.

In the 30th minute, Ivory Coast’s counter-attack was devastating. Diomande’s pace on the left tore through the German defence. Diallo’s shot was saved, but Kessie — the former AC Milan midfielder — pounced like a predator. 1-0.

In the 39th minute, Germany had another goal disallowed. Musiala won the ball and fed Havertz, who slotted home. But the referee ruled that Musiala had fouled his opponent in the tackle. No goal.

Two goals disallowed. One goal conceded. Germany went into the break trailing 1-0. It was a suffocating half.

Undav: The Unlikely Hero

In the 60th minute, Nagelsmann made the decision that changed everything. He took off Sane, Musiala, and Pavlovic. He sent on Undav, Amiri, and Jamie Leweling.

The effect was immediate.

In the 68th minute, Amiri crossed from the right. Undav attacked the ball in the box and headed it home. 1-1. No fancy dribbling. No intricate passing patterns. Just a cross and a header — the most basic form of football.

In the 94th minute, Nmecha played a through ball. Undav received it in the box, turned, and shot. 2-1.

Deniz Undav is 179 centimetres tall and weighs 86 kilograms. He looks like a bear. He is not graceful. He is not elegant. He does not have Sane’s hip-swivelling rhythm. But he is a centre-forward. A pure, old-fashioned number nine. He does not need to embroider in tight spaces. He just needs to be in the box when the ball arrives.

This match was a flashback to the 2022 World Cup. Germany crashed out in the group stage that year. They lost to Japan in the first game. They could not break down Spain in the second. Then Niclas Fullkrug — a traditional centre-forward — came off the bench and scored. Four years later, the same script. Germany spent 60 minutes trying to pass their way through a wall. Then they brought on a striker. Two touches. Two goals. Job done.

Ivory Coast: Defeated, Not Disgraced

Ivory Coast played a superb match. Kessie’s goal was a masterclass in counter-attacking efficiency. Diomande’s runs down the left caused constant problems. The midfield trio of Ouraï, Ibrahim Sangare, and Kessie physically dominated Germany’s passing game.

But football is a 90-minute sport. Ivory Coast held on for 94 minutes. They were beaten by a striker who was in the right place at the right time. They leave with their heads held high.

Group E Standings

Pos Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Germany 2 2 0 0 4 1 +3 6
2 Ivory Coast 2 1 0 1 2 2 0 3
3 Ecuador 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1
4 Curacao 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1

Match Details:

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