Germany struck deep into stoppage time to complete a remarkable comeback and defeat Ivory Coast 2-1 in a gripping World Cup 2026 Group E encounter on Friday.
The four-time world champions looked set for a frustrating evening after trailing for much of the match, but substitute Deniz Undav emerged as the hero with two late goals to preserve Germany’s perfect start to the tournament.
Ivory Coast stunned the favourites in the 30th minute when Franck Kessié fired the Africans into the lead, punishing Germany for a sluggish first-half display. The Elephants defended resolutely and carried their advantage into the interval, leaving Julian Nagelsmann’s side facing an unexpected challenge.
Germany dominated possession after the break and intensified the pressure in search of an equaliser. Their persistence finally paid off in the 68th minute when Nadiem Amiri set up Undav, who calmly found the net to bring the Europeans level at 1-1.
The equaliser sparked a wave of German attacks as Ivory Coast retreated deeper in an attempt to secure a valuable point. The African side appeared on course to hold firm, but heartbreak arrived in the fourth minute of added time.
Felix Nmecha delivered the decisive pass and Undav once again produced the finishing touch, sweeping home the winner to send the German supporters into celebration and complete a dramatic turnaround.
The victory follows Germany’s emphatic 7-1 demolition of Curaçao in their opening Group E fixture and strengthens their position at the top of the group with maximum points from two matches.
For Ivory Coast, who opened their campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Ecuador, the defeat was a bitter blow after an impressive defensive performance that had brought them within minutes of a famous result.
Germany will now head into their final group match against Ecuador full of confidence, while Ivory Coast must regroup quickly as they prepare for a crucial clash with Curaçao in their bid to reach the knockout stage.
