Germany's Dramatic Late Win
Germany Secures Agonizing and Undeserved Victory with Undav's Stoppage Time Goal
Germany survived a nightmare at BMO Field in Toronto on June 20, 2026, beating Ivory Coast 2-1 in one of the most undeserved victories of this World Cup. Substitute Deniz Undav scored twice — the second in the 94th minute — to rescue a Germany side that was outplayed for most of the match. Informacion.es and other outlets called it "agónica": a win that hurt to watch.
The result puts Germany through to the Round of 16 with six points from two games. But the manner of the win confirmed what many had suspected. Germany remains fragile under pressure, and Nagelsmann's team needed a late miracle rather than a plan to stay alive.
Undav Saves Germany After Dismal First Hour
Germany started with the same 3-4-3 lineup that crushed Curaçao 7-1. But Ivory Coast had a plan. Franck Kessié dominated the midfield and in the 30th minute scored on a rebound after Amad Diallo's shot was blocked. Germany went to halftime 0-1 down and looked completely lost. Earlier, a Pavlović header was ruled out by VAR for a foul on goalkeeper Yahia Fofana.
Nagelsmann acted at the hour mark. He brought on Undav, Nadiem Amiri, and Jamie Leweling for Musiala, Pavlović, and Sané — a triple substitution that changed the game. In the 68th minute, Undav volleyed in an Amiri cross to make it 1-1. Then, with two minutes left in stoppage time, Undav turned his marker and fired left-footed past Fofana. Germany 2-1. The stadium erupted.
Undav Makes World Cup History From the Bench
Undav is now the first German player since Miroslav Klose in 2002 to score in each of his first two World Cup games. He has seven international goals in just 10 appearances for Germany. He also has three goals and two assists in this tournament alone — the most direct contributions of any player so far. "It's important that everyone sees that even bench players can decide games," Undav said, according to El Periódico Mediterráneo.
Nagelsmann defended his decisions after the final whistle. "The boys invested a lot," he said. "Why should I ruin his dynamics? He came in twice and scored goals," according to El Periódico de Extremadura. The coach called the win "merited" despite the "emotional" rollercoaster — a claim that drew skepticism from most analysts covering the game.
Defensive Injury Clouds Germany's Path Forward
The win came at a cost. Defender Nico Schlotterbeck left the pitch at halftime with a suspected medial ligament injury. Nagelsmann did not hide his concern. "Honestly, it doesn't look good at all," he told reporters, according to Diario Córdoba. Schlotterbeck is a key piece of Germany's high defensive line, and his absence could force major tactical changes.
Without Schlotterbeck, Nagelsmann has few left-footed center-back options. Antonio Rüdiger is expected to start against Ecuador on June 25. That match will decide who tops Group E. Germany currently holds six points — but another defensive collapse like this one could cost them dearly in the knockout rounds.
A Win That Exposes the Gap Between Results and Performance
Germany has now won 11 straight matches. But this performance split opinion sharply. Spanish media — including La Opinión de Málaga and La Opinión de A Coruña — labeled the victory "unmerited," pointing out that Ivory Coast was the better team for 60 minutes. In the 88th minute, Ivory Coast winger Simon Adingra missed an open goal that would have made it 2-1 for the Africans.
German media focused on "mentality" and "character." But the tactical picture told a different story. Kessié and Sangaré overran Pavlović and Nmecha in central midfield for an hour. Germany's plan broke down completely until the substitutes arrived. Ivory Coast's Amad Diallo said the result was "tight" and that his side missed a chance to "make history," according to El Correo Web. The "suspicions" about this Germany side are very much alive.
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