Germany vs Ivory Coast
Germany snatch victory with last-gasp double
D. Undav's brace seals a dramatic 2-1 comeback against Ivory Coast.
Ivory Coast took the lead through F. Kessié's strike in the 30th minute, but Germany fought back with D. Undav scoring twice, including a stoppage-time winner at 90+4'. The match was a nail-biter, with Germany overturning the deficit late on to claim the win. Fipster's prediction of a 2-1 home victory proved spot on, with the model's confidence well justified.
Analysis
Germany and Ivory Coast face off in a pivotal Group Stage matchday 2 fixture at the FIFA World Cup 2026. Both teams have started strong, but Germany's squad depth and recent performances give them the upper hand.
Germany boasts 20 prior World Cup appearances and four titles, showcasing a rich tournament pedigree. Ivory Coast, with three prior appearances, aims to improve on their group stage best finish. Both teams qualified directly, with Germany topping their group with 15 points and Ivory Coast leading theirs with 26 points and a +25 goal difference.
Germany's squad features 25 of 26 players competing in top-5 European leagues, including key figures like Joshua Kimmich and Manuel Neuer from Bayern München, giving them a clear calibre advantage over Ivory Coast's 12 top-tier league players such as Eric Ndicka and Nicolas Pépé. Both sides have strong recent form, but Germany's perfect run of five wins and dominant qualifying performance suggest they will control the match. Ivory Coast's defensive midfield, led by Yan Diomande, could disrupt Germany's rhythm, but the German creative defence and attacking depth are likely to prevail.
Prediction
Expect Germany to take an early lead, going into halftime 1-0 up. Ivory Coast will respond, but Germany's attacking prowess, highlighted by Kai Havertz's goal-scoring form and Joshua Kimmich's playmaking, should secure a 2-1 victory. The match is predicted to see around four cards, reflecting typical group stage discipline.
Outcome probability
Key Insights
Germany's Creative Defense Fuels Attack
Kimmich and Brown provide high assist potential from defense, creating overloads and set-piece threats.
Germany's Superior Scoring Form
Multiple players with goals and assists in recent home game indicate strong attacking momentum.
Impact Substitutes Could Decide Match
Undav and Diallo have high goal involvement in limited minutes, likely to influence game dynamics.
Ivory Coast's Defensive Midfield Strength
Diomande's tackling and interceptions could disrupt Germany's midfield rhythm and counterattacks.
No Key Injuries Reported
Both teams have full squads available, ensuring tactical plans can be executed as intended.
Key Takeaways
This encounter promises a competitive but ultimately narrow win for Germany, who combine experience, quality, and form. Ivory Coast will provide a stern test, but the Germans' superior squad and momentum should see them through to maintain their strong position in the group.
- Germany has 20 prior World Cup appearances and has won the tournament four times (1954, 1974, 1990, 2014).
- Ivory Coast has appeared in three World Cups, with their best finish being the group stage.
- Both teams qualified directly for the 2026 World Cup, topping their respective qualifying groups.
- Germany's squad includes 25 of 26 players in top-5 European leagues, compared to Ivory Coast's 12.
- Germany has won all their last five matches, while Ivory Coast has four wins and one draw in their last five.
- Germany leads their group with 3 points and a +6 goal difference after one match.
- Ivory Coast also has 3 points but with a +1 goal difference after one match.
Player Insights
Standout players Fipster expects to impact the match — curated highlights, not full squad lists
Home — Germany
Away — Ivory Coast
Form as the teams went into this match — excludes this result and anything since.
Team Comparison
Season shape — attack, defence, form, clean sheets & win rate
Home vs Away comparison
Goal difference in each of the last few fixtures — above the line is a net win, below is a net loss
Season comparison
Goals scored & conceded, goal difference and clean sheets across the season
Halftime Performance
What each side does once the whistle goes for half time
Streaks
Recent-form runs — each side’s most-recent game meets in the middle
Head to Head
FIFA world ranking
Kessié
Schlotterbeck
Sané
Musiala
Pavlović
Undav
Assist: Amiri
Bonny
Sangaré
Diallo
Singo
Diomande
Havertz
Undav
Assist: Nmecha
Match Statistics
Germany
4-2-3-1Starting XI
- 1M. NeuerG
- 4J. TahD
- 5A. PavlovićM
- 6J. KimmichD
- 7K. HavertzF
- 10J. MusialaM
- 15N. SchlotterbeckD
- 17F. WirtzM
- 18N. BrownD
- 19L. SanéM
- 23F. NmechaM
Substitutes
- 2A. RüdigerD
- 3W. AntonD
- 8L. GoretzkaM
- 9J. LewelingF
- 11N. WoltemadeF
- 12O. BaumannG
- 13P. GroßM
- 14M. BeierF
- 16A. StillerM
- 20N. AmiriM
- 21A. NübelG
- 22D. RaumD
- 24M. ThiawD
- 25A. OuédraogoM
- 26D. UndavF
Ivory Coast
4-1-4-1Starting XI
- 1Y. FofanaG
- 3G. KonanD
- 5W. SingoD
- 7O. KossounouD
- 8F. KessiéM
- 9A. BonnyF
- 11Y. DiomandeM
- 15A. DialloM
- 18I. SangaréM
- 20E. AgbadouD
- 26C. Inao OulaïM
Substitutes
- 2O. DiomandeD
- 4J. SeriM
- 6S. FofanaM
- 10S. AdingraF
- 12E. WahiF
- 13C. OperiD
- 14O. DiakitéF
- 16M. KonéG
- 17G. DouéD
- 19N. PépéF
- 21E. NdickaD
- 22E. GuessandF
- 23A. LafontG
- 24B. TouréF
- 25P. GuiagonM
Germany
| Player | Pos | Min | Rating | G | A | Shots | SoT | Key Passes | Dribbles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Felix Nmecha | M | 94 | 7.5 | — | 1 | — | — | 2 | 0/3 |
| Florian Wirtz | M | 94 | 7.3 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2/4 |
| Jonathan Tah | D | 94 | 7.3 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — |
| Joshua Kimmich(C) | D | 94 | 7.3 | — | — | — | — | 3 | — |
| Nathaniel Brown | D | 94 | 7.2 | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| Leroy Sané | M | 60 | 6.9 | — | — | — | — | — | 1/2 |
| Manuel Neuer | G | 94 | 6.9 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Nico Schlotterbeck | D | 45 | 6.7 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — |
| Aleksandar Pavlović | M | 60 | 6.3 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — |
| Jamal Musiala | M | 60 | 6.3 | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | 2/4 |
| Kai Havertz | F | 85 | 6.2 | — | — | 3 | 1 | — | 0/1 |
| Substitutes | |||||||||
| Assan Ouédraogo | M | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Oliver Baumann | G | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Malick Thiaw | D | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Alexander Nübel | G | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Pascal Groß | M | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| David Raum | D | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Waldemar Anton | D | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Angelo Stiller | M | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Nick Woltemade | F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Maximilian Beier | F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Deniz Undav | F | 34 | 8.3 | 2 | — | 3 | 3 | 2 | — |
| Nadiem Amiri | M | 34 | 7.2 | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — |
| Antonio Rüdiger | D | 49 | 7.0 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — |
| Leon Goretzka | M | 9 | 6.9 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Jamie Leweling | F | 34 | 6.7 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — |
Ivory Coast
| Player | Pos | Min | Rating | G | A | Shots | SoT | Key Passes | Dribbles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yahia Fofana | G | 94 | 8.2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Franck Kessié(C) | M | 94 | 7.5 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | — | 1/2 |
| Ibrahim Sangaré | M | 75 | 7.2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Christ Inao Oulaï | M | 94 | 7.2 | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | 5/5 |
| Yan Diomande | M | 85 | 7.0 | — | — | 1 | — | 2 | 3/7 |
| Ghislain Konan | D | 94 | 6.9 | — | — | — | — | — | 1/2 |
| Odilon Kossounou | D | 94 | 6.7 | — | — | — | — | — | 1/1 |
| Wilfried Singo | D | 82 | 6.6 | — | — | — | — | — | 4/4 |
| Amad Diallo | M | 75 | 6.3 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0/5 |
| Ange-Yoan Bonny | F | 75 | 6.3 | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| Emmanuel Agbadou | D | 94 | 6.2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Substitutes | |||||||||
| Evan Ndicka | D | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Ousmane Diomande | D | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Oumar Diakité | F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Bazoumana Touré | F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Mohamed Koné | G | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Parfait Guiagon | M | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Elye Wahi | F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Alban Lafont | G | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Christopher Operi | D | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Jean Michaël Seri | M | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Nicolas Pépé | F | 9 | 6.9 | — | — | — | — | — | 2/2 |
| Seko Fofana | M | 19 | 6.3 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Guéla Doué | D | 12 | 6.3 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Simon Adingra | F | 19 | 6.3 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0/1 |
| Evann Guessand | F | 19 | 6.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 0/1 |