Deniz Undav stepped off the bench to score twice, including a 94th-minute winner, as Germany overturned a deficit to beat Ivory Coast 2-1 and secure progression to the World Cup last 32, with the RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande impressing for Ivory Coast during a tense contest in Toronto.
This victory ends Germany’s run of two straight group exits at World Cups in 2018 and 2022, and guarantees a top-two finish in Group E, while Julian Nagelsmann’s team will win the section if Ecuador fail to collect maximum points from both of their remaining group fixtures.
Ivory Coast struck first on 30 minutes through captain Franck Kessie, yet Germany’s substitutes tilted the match, as Nagelsmann sent on Undav and Nadiem Amiri in a triple change on the hour,
with Undav equalising after eight further minutes before striking again in stoppage time for his second brace in consecutive substitute appearances.
Undav now has five goal contributions from the bench at this World Cup, after recording one goal and two assists against Curacao, and this matches Roger Milla’s 1990 record for most goal involvements as a substitute at a single World Cup since 1966, underlining Undav’s impact in limited minutes.
Five goal involvements off the bench. Deniz Undav has ALREADY matched Roger Milla's 1990 record for the most goal involvements as a substitute at a single World Cup since 1966. pic.twitter.com/20X64wQLu7 Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) June 20, 2026
Germany actually started with the better chances before falling behind, as Kai Havertz saw a downward header pushed away by Yahia Fofana, then Felix Nmecha’s long-range drive clipped a defender and landed on the roof of the net, while Aleksandar Pavlovic had a header disallowed for a foul on Fofana.
Momentum changed after the first-half hydration break, when Ivory Coast attacked with more confidence, repeatedly using the left channel, with Opta data showing 56.1% of their first-half attacks came down that flank, where Diomande’s speed and direct running forced Germany backwards and unsettled Joshua Kimmich’s side of the defence.
The breakthrough arrived when Diomande sprinted beyond Kimmich and drilled a low cross into the six-yard box, Brown’s block halted Amad Diallo’s first attempt, but the loose ball fell to Kessie, who calmly guided a right-footed shot past Manuel Neuer to become Ivory Coast’s second-oldest World Cup scorer at 29 years and 183 days.
Only Didier Drogba has scored for Ivory Coast at a greater age, netting against Brazil in 2010 at 32 years and 101 days, while Germany continued to struggle, as a Havertz finish into an empty net from Florian Wirtz’s pass was ruled out because Jamal Musiala tripped Odilon Kossounou in the build-up.
| World Cup match detail | Germany | Ivory Coast |
|---|---|---|
| Final score | 2 | 1 |
| Goals | Deniz Undav 68', 90+4' | Franck Kessie 30' |
| Disallowed goals | Pavlovic header, Havertz finish | None |
World Cup Germany vs Ivory Coast second-half drama
Ivory Coast remained dangerous after half-time, as Christ Inao Oulai lifted a chance over following another smooth counter-attack, then Havertz nodded a deep Kimmich corner wide with the goal open, yet Nagelsmann’s changes finally shifted control, with Amiri delivering from the right and Undav guiding a precise shot into the roof of the net.
The match stayed open, with Simon Adingra missing a promising opportunity for Ivory Coast and Nathaniel Brown also wasting a clear look for Germany, before Nmecha threaded a sharp pass into Undav, who turned sharply, stayed onside due to Ghislain Konan’s position, and slid the ball beyond Fofana in the 94th minute.
2 - Deniz Undav ist der erste deutsche Spieler seit Miroslav Klose im Jahr 2002, der in jedem seiner ersten beiden WM-Spiele ein Tor erzielt hat. Strmerstar. pic.twitter.com/PMfDfpWvC5 OptaFranz (@OptaFranz) June 20, 2026
Opta figures show Undav is the first Germany player since Miroslav Klose in 2002 to score in each of a first two World Cup appearances, and if Undav approaches the output of the tournament’s joint-record scorer in later matches, Nagelsmann and Germany will regard this as a very positive sign.
Germany’s bench strength ultimately overcame Ivory Coast’s organised counter-attacking and Diomande’s influence on the left, and the result delivers Germany a long-awaited return to World Cup knockout football, while Ivory Coast leave the match knowing they troubled a major opponent but lacked precision during key moments at both ends.
