Germany vs Ivory Coast Live FT: Super-Sub Undav Nets Late Brace in Dramatic 2-1 Comeback

June 20, 2026

Germany have officially booked their place in the knockout rounds of the 2026 FIFA World Cup following an absolute thriller in Toronto. What looked like a historic victory for the Ivory Coast turned on its head during a breathless final half-hour, with VfB Stuttgart forward Deniz Undav delivering the ultimate super-sub masterclass to secure a 2-1 win.

Following their opening 7-1 thrashing of Curaçao, Julian Nagelsmann's men found themselves thoroughly tested by an incredibly disciplined, physically dominant Ivorian side. Ultimately, tactical adjustments and sheer German persistence paved the way for a grandstand finish at Toronto Stadium.

Here is how the late drama unfolded in one of the games of the tournament so far.

First Half Frustration: Kessié Puts Elephants in Control

Germany opened the match trying to dictate tempo through Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz, but the African giants proved stubbornly difficult to break down. Things quickly went from frustrated to worse for the four-time world champions:

20th Minute (Disallowed Goal): Germany thought they had drawn first blood when a corner leaked into the net, but the referee promptly blew his whistle for a foul on Ivorian goalkeeper Yahia Fofana.

30th Minute (0-1): The breakthrough came at the other end. Yan Diomande carved space open down the flank and found Amad Diallo. After a block, the ball fell perfectly to midfielder Franck Kessié, who fired home the rebound to shock the German support.

39th Minute (Another Disallowed Goal): Kai Havertz produced a crisp finish to seemingly level the score, but a quick VAR review confirmed Musiala had fouled Odilon Kossounou in the immediate buildup, wiping the goal off the board.

The Substitution That Changed Everything

Heading into the tunnel down 1-0 at the break, Julian Nagelsmann knew he had to inject urgency into his side. In the 60th minute, he made a triple substitution that completely flipped the match’s trajectory—introducing Nadiem Amiri, Jamie Leweling, and Deniz Undav.

The payoff was almost instantaneous. In the 68th minute, Amiri whipped an excellent cross into the danger zone, allowing a poaching Undav to slot home the equalizer from point-blank range.

Stoppage Time Chaos: Undav at the Death

The final ten minutes descended into high-octane, end-to-end chaos as both sides desperately hunted for a winner to cement group supremacy.

The Ivory Coast missed a golden opportunity in the 88th minute when Nicolas Pépé picked out Simon Adingra in the box, only for a loose touch to ruin the angle. Germany immediately countered, with full-back Nathaniel Brown stinging the palms of Fofana with a ferocious volley.

Just as a draw seemed inevitable, Germany struck with the final kick of the game in the 94th minute. Felix Nmecha picked out Undav with a precise pass on the edge of the area. The forward brilliantly held off his marker, spun his defender, and drilled a low finish past a helpless Fofana to spark absolute pandemonium in the stands.

Group E Standings: Germany Secure Knockout Football

With six points from their opening two fixtures, Germany have successfully locked in their spot in the Round of 32. Meanwhile, the Ivory Coast still remain in a strong position to advance but will face a crucial final-day showdown against Ecuador.