GermanyvsCôte d'Ivoire

Result

Franck Kessié put Côte d'Ivoire ahead on the half-hour and Emerse Faé's side defended their lead deep into the second half, frustrating a Germany team that controlled the ball but lacked a cutting edge. Julian Nagelsmann's substitutions changed it: Deniz Undav, on at the hour, volleyed in Nadiem Amiri's cross on 68 minutes and then settled it in the fourth minute of stoppage time, finishing Felix Nmecha's pass to send Germany through to the round of 32. The Ivorians, beaten only by the late double, can still qualify from their final group game.

Germany 4-2-3-14-1-4-1 Côte d'Ivoire

Germany

Côte d'Ivoire

Deniz Undav68'

Franck Kessié30'

Deniz Undav90'+4'

60%Possession40%

16Shots9

7On target2

1Saves5

8Corners3

555Passes completed367

89%Pass accuracy85%

26Tackles20

33Touches in box22

Substitutions

Antonio Rüdigerfor Nico Schlotterbeckat 45'

Evann Guessandfor Bonnyat 75'

Jamie Lewelingfor Leroy Sanéat 60'

Seko Fofanafor Ibrahim Sangaréat 75'

Deniz Undavfor Jamal Musialaat 60'

Simon Adingrafor Amad Dialloat 75'

Nadiem Amirifor Aleksandar Pavlovićat 60'

Guéla Douéfor Wilfried Singoat 82'

Leon Goretzkafor Kai Havertzat 85'

Nicolas Pépéfor Yan Diomandéat 85'

At this Stage

Two rounds in, Group E has a settled summit and a scramble beneath it. Germany's six points and +7 goal difference guarantee a top-two finish — they are through to the round of 32 with a game to spare, spared a nervier evening only by two late Undav goals. Côte d'Ivoire stay second on three, beaten only by that late double, and can still qualify from their final game. Below them, the goalless draw between Ecuador and Curaçao helped neither much: a point each leaves both on one, alive but needing a final-day win and favours. The group's pattern is blunt — Germany's opening-night goal glut bought them freedom, and everyone else is still paying retail.

Group E

Team	P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
Germany	2	2	0	0	+7	6
Côte d'Ivoire	2	1	0	1	+0	3
Ecuador	2	0	1	1	-1	1
Curaçao	2	0	1	1	-6	1

Top two (above the accent line) advance to the round of 32; the third-placed team is in the race for one of the eight best-third spots.

What we know now

What I said beforehand

The preview, frozen at kickoff. Clearly dated, never rewritten — that's the deal that makes the predictions worth anything.

Germany to win. Julian Nagelsmann's side announced themselves with a 7-1 demolition of Curaçao and, with Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala in this kind of form, carry far more firepower than a well-organised Côte d'Ivoire. The Ivorians edged Ecuador 1-0 and will defend deep and break through Amad Diallo and Simon Adingra, so chances will come the other way — but Germany should have too much. 2-0 Germany.

Both cases written 2026-06-19, before kickoff — they freeze into the record exactly as written, however the match goes. The percentages are mine, quoted to a decimal because false precision is funnier — the unclaimed 24% belongs to the draw.