Deniz Undav nets two goals off bench as Germany rallies to upend Ivory Coast, 2-1
TORONTO - Substitute Deniz Undav scored twice in Germany's 2-1 comeback win over Ivory Coast on Saturday, as Germany exorcized the ghosts of 2018 and 2022 by making the men's World Cup knockout round for first time since 2014.
The 2014 champion crashed out in the group stage in the last two editions and Undav guaranteed qualification to the last 32 this time with his winner four minutes into stoppage time.
Captain Franck Kessie put the West Africans ahead in the 30th minute, but Undav evened the score off the bench in the 68th.
A knee injury to German center back Nico Schlotterbeck forced him off at halftime.
Undav, after Germany won their first two World Cup games for the first time since 2006, told ZDF: "I try to bring my confidence on to the pitch, I know that I can score in every game.
"There are no nerves, it is just a football match. We are on a good path, a very good path, but every team is tough. We will take the flow and positivity with us."
Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann played the same starting XI, which battered Curaçao 7-1 in their first Group E game.
The Ivorians dropped Elye Wahi to the bench from the team that started the 1-0 victory over Ecuador. He had only gained a Canadian visa on the second attempt amid a criminal spot-fixing probe against him in France. He denies wrongdoing.
Aleksandar Pavlović thought he had given the four-time champion the lead, but he was penalized for jumping into the keeper, much to the annoyance of the German fans in the stands.
Germany's talisman
Fans of the Elephants danced for joy in Toronto stadium. Third place could also get the Ivorians through in the new format after their group finale against Curaçao.
The goal initially knocked the stuffing out of the Germans, but they rallied when Kai Havertz had the ball in the net, only for the referee to blow up for an earlier foul by Jamal Musiala.
It was clearly an Ivorian free kick, but Germany wondered why the official had waited so long to whistle.
Florian Wirtz then tried to walk the ball into the net when he should have pulled the trigger just before halftime.
Antonio Rüdiger came on for Schlotterbeck at the interval, but Nagelsmann resisted other changes until the 60th minute, despite Germany being rushed.
Undav, who scored in the opener, was introduced alongside VfB Stuttgart teammate Jamie Leweling and Mainz midfielder Nadiem Amiri.
It didn't take long for Amiri's cross to be turned in from close range by Undav, who had feared he would not make the World Cup squad after negative comments from Nagelsmann.
Instead he is increasingly looking like Germany's talisman with his ninth goal in 11 internationals coming in injury time. Undav received the ball from Felix Nmecha and finished superbly on the turn.
"Deniz scored two top goals," Nagelsmann said. "He is the kind of striker who knows where the goal is."
But the coach stopped short of saying Undav should start going forward as his impact off the bench could be more important.
Ivory Coast will regret some misses and star Yan Diomande having a quiet game, while Wilfried Singo looked to suffer an injury.
Ivorian coach Emerse Fae said: "That was a high-class game for top spot in the group. We didn't manage to get that second goal and that was a shame. We are disappointed."
Ecuador takes on Curaçao later on Saturday in Kansas City, Mo., and the result will have an impact on Germany's pursuit of top spot. Nagelsmann's team meets Ecuador in its last group game on Thursday.
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This story was originally published June 20, 2026 at 4:38 PM.