# Deniz Undav’s Late Double Saves Germany, Sends Die Mannschaft to Knockouts

**By Hank Morrow**  \nPublished July 22, 2026  \nUpdated July 22, 2026

> Deniz Undav emerged from the bench to score twice, including a 94th-minute winner, as Germany overcame a stubborn Ivory Coast side to clinch their place in the 2026 World Cup knockout stages.

In the high-stakes atmosphere of Toronto’s BMO Field, the weight of history and the pressure of a nation were effectively lifted by a player once considered a marginal figure in German football. Deniz Undav, the 29-year-old VfB Stuttgart forward, cemented his status as the tournament’s premier super-sub, delivering a match-winning brace to propel Germany into the Round of 32 with a 2-1 victory over a spirited Ivory Coast.

For nearly 70 minutes, Julian Nagelsmann’s side wrestled with their own expectations. Seeking to move past the trauma of back-to-back group-stage exits in 2018 and 2022, Germany found themselves against a tactically disciplined Ivory Coast side buoyed by their opening win over Ecuador. The Ivorian breakthrough arrived at the 30-minute mark; Yan Diomande, a persistent threat on the left flank, surged past Joshua Kimmich before driving a low cross into the box. Following a block, captain Franck Kessié swept the ball past Manuel Neuer, giving *Les Éléphants* a deserved lead.

Germany’s frustration grew as they saw two efforts ruled out: an Aleksandar Pavlovic header was disallowed for a foul on keeper Yahia Fofana, and a Kai Havertz finish was scrubbed after Jamal Musiala was judged to have tripped Odilon Kossounou. The threat of an upset loomed as large as the Toronto skyline, with Germany struggling to find their rhythm against an aggressive, vertical Ivorian transition game.

Nagelsmann’s tactical pivot at the hour mark proved to be the match’s definitive moment. With his team trailing, the manager introduced a triple substitution, calling upon Jamie Leweling, Nadiem Amiri, and, most crucially, Undav. The impact was near-instantaneous. Just eight minutes after entering the pitch, Undav connected with an Amiri cross, side-footing home to level the scores. As stoppage time beckoned and both sides traded misses, the game reached its climax in the 94th minute. Felix Nmecha delivered a sharp pass into the box, and Undav, displaying the poise of a veteran, controlled the ball, turned, and rifled a strike into the bottom-right corner to secure the points.

The victory confirms Germany's place in the knockout stages, a milestone the nation has not reached since the 2014 final. For Ivory Coast, the result is a bitter pill, though they remain in a strong position to qualify with a final group game against Curacao ahead.

## The Data Behind the Surge

The efficiency of Undav’s performance is historic. According to Opta, the VfB Stuttgart forward has been directly involved in five goals as a substitute at the 2026 World Cup—three goals and two assists. This feat ties him with the legendary Roger Milla (1990) for the most goal involvements by a substitute in a single tournament since records began in 1966. Furthermore, he is the first German player to score in his opening two World Cup matches since Miroslav Klose in 2002.

Offering analysis for ITV, Gary Neville noted the nature of the recovery: "In the first 10 or 15 minutes of the second half, Ivory Coast should have killed the game off. But it's just what Germany do. They stuck at it, persistence, resilience and they got there in the end."

## Match Timeline

- **30'**: Franck Kessié (CIV) scores off a Yan Diomande cross.
- **60'**: Triple substitution for Germany (Undav, Amiri, Leweling).
- **68'**: Deniz Undav (GER) levels the match (Assist: Nadiem Amiri).
- **90+4'**: Deniz Undav (GER) nets the winner (Assist: Felix Nmecha).For Germany, the challenge now shifts to the final group stage fixture against Ecuador, while Ivory Coast must recover to face Curacao. The tournament has found an unlikely protagonist in Undav, a player who has transformed in just a week from a backup option to the primary architect of a new German era.

## Sources

- [sportingnews.com](https://www.sportingnews.com/ca/soccer/news/germany-vs-ivory-coast-world-cup-live-score-result-highlights/3d5a45d9a7707210d5f2d2b5) — original
- [espn.com](https://www.espn.com/soccer/match/_/gameId/760448/ivory-coast-germany) — original
- [GROUP E](https://www.foxsports.com/soccer/fifa-world-cup-men-germany-vs-ivory-coast-jun-20-2026-game-boxscore-647649) — original
- [sports.yahoo.com](https://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/fifa-world-cup/ivory-coast-germany-13587211/) — original
- [Harry Carr](https://theanalyst.com/articles/germany-vs-ivory-coast-stats-world-cup-2026) — original
- [bbc.com](https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/live/cn8q9pp0p94t) — original
- [skysports.com](https://www.skysports.com/football/germany-vs-ivory-coast/report/549798) — original