A true battle unfolded in a vibrant Toronto stadium on Saturday as Côte d’Ivoire and Germany delivered a high-intensity match. Both teams traded blows, but it was Germany who snatched a second consecutive victory, deep into stoppage time, with a decisive strike from Deniz Undav in the 90th+4 minute. Undav had previously netted the equalizer. The Ivorians will undoubtedly lament their squandered counter-attacking opportunities, particularly Simon Adingra’s one-on-one chance against Manuel Neuer in the 88th minute. While either side could have taken the lead, it was the depth of Germany’s bench that ultimately proved to be the deciding factor.

The Germans had to dig deep to find their equalizer, with Undav converting from close range inside the box following a precise delivery from fellow substitute Nadiem Amiri in the 68th minute. Despite the challenging contest against a surprisingly resilient Ivorian side, Julian Nagelsmann’s men secured their spot in the Round of 16 and are now well-positioned to finish at the top of their group.

It was the Elephants who initially broke the deadlock, with captain Frank Kessié finding the net in the 30th minute. He capitalized on a cross from Yan Diomandé and a deflected shot from Amad Diallo. Côte d’Ivoire had expertly managed their return from a cooling break in the 20-degree heat, but the early exchanges had already set the tone for a fiercely contested match.

Singo exits injured late in the match

Earlier in the match, Ivorian goalkeeper Yahia Fofana made a crucial save from a point-blank Kai Havertz header following a Joshua Kimmich cross in the 10th minute. Odilon Kossonou then deflected a Félix Nmecha shot just over the bar in the 21st minute. Germany had to be wary of turnovers, which Côte d’Ivoire often exploited. With a powerful Ange-Yoan Bonny leading the attack, Emerse Faé’s side launched dangerous counter-attacks down the flanks, notably through Yan Diomandé, whose delivery, though not always precise, proved effective on their goal.

Faé had clearly analyzed his opponent well, aiming to close off the central areas and increase defensive density. However, his team needed to hold on for just a few more minutes. As the game wore on, maintaining concentration and physical readiness became increasingly difficult, demanding immense effort in repositioning and ball recovery. The Germans, for their part, seemed surprised by the resistance and athletic prowess of some Ivorian players, particularly Wilfried Singo, whose positioning was occasionally questionable but whose sheer power allowed him to recover effectively. His injury-forced exit in the 80th minute undoubtedly weakened his team.