Germany vs Ivory Coast 2:1 — A Substitute Undav's Brace Completed the Comeback

Germany beat Ivory Coast 2-1, coming back after a goal from Franck Kessié. At 1.89 xG to 1.22, this outcome looks fairly logical — the model rates it around 53% likely.

Kessié put the Africans ahead, but an Undav brace turned it around

Franck Kessié opened the scoring in the 30th minute, catching Germany off guard.

But substitute Deniz Undav, brought on in the 60th, equalized in the 68th and put Germany ahead in the 90th — a rare case where both decisive goals came from the same player off the bench.

16 shots to 9 — Germany gradually seized control

Germany held 60% possession and fired 16 shots to their opponent's 9, putting 7 on target.

Ivory Coast keeper Yahia Fofana made 5 saves, but conceded twice after German coach Julian Nagelsmann reshaped the attack through substitutions.

Nagelsmann's triple change in the 60th turned the match

The German coach made three substitutions at once in the 60th minute — Nadiem Amiri for Pavlović, Jonas Leweling for Sané, and eventual hero Deniz Undav for Jamal Musiala.

That reshuffle shifted the balance of the game: Germany added width and fresh legs in attack right as Ivory Coast began to tire after an active first half.

Emerse Faé answered with three changes in the 75th, but it was too late

Ivory Coast coach Emerse Faé made three substitutions at once in the 75th minute (Fofana for Sangaré, Guessand for Bonny, Adingra for Diallo) trying to protect the lead, but that was exactly the stretch when Germany pushed hardest.

By the 85th Ivory Coast had made two more changes, but couldn't stop Undav.

Both sides had already advanced in the group

Germany already led the group with 6 points before kickoff, Ivory Coast second, also on 6.

Both teams were already marked in the standings as through to the round of 32 before this game — so the loss cost the Africans nothing in terms of qualification, while the win only confirmed Germany's first place.

Undav only entered in the 60th but became the deciding factor

That both winning goals came from a player who started the match on the bench underlines the depth of Germany's squad.

The team can change a match's outcome even without its starting forwards on the pitch, relying on the quality of its substitutes in decisive moments.

Substitutions as the deciding tactical resource

The fact that both German goals came from a substitute underlines the depth of Nagelsmann's squad — the ability to change a match's outcome without starting it becomes an increasingly important factor over a long tournament with a packed match schedule.

For Ivory Coast, the result carries no real tournament cost, but it's a reminder that even a team already through to the knockout stage has to hold its concentration until the final whistle.