Deniz Undav has positioned himself as a key player for Germany in the lead-up to the World Cup 2026, having scored two goals off the bench to lead a thrilling comeback victory over Ivory Coast.
The 2-1 win in their World Cup Group E match on Saturday marked their first advancement to the knockout stage since their championship win in 2014.
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Germany kept their composure despite having two goals disallowed in the first half, using skillful passing to navigate the match while the Ivory Coast displayed their energetic attacking style in a thrilling contest at Toronto Stadium.
“This victory means a lot to us,” said Undav, who has now netted nine goals in his last eight matches. “We demonstrated remarkable character today.”
Undav equalized with a precise volley in the 68th minute and sealed the game in stoppage time with a swift turn and shot that left Yahia Fofana with no chance to save.
In the closing moments, Simon Adingra had an opportunity for Ivory Coast but failed to get a shot away in the box before Germany struck back quickly, with Fofana blocking a low shot from Nathaniel Brown.
Germany’s Deniz Undav (26) celebrates with teammates (AP)
Germany’s head coach Julian Nagelsmann acknowledged that Undav might get a starting spot against Ecuador on Thursday in New York.
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“He may start next time,” the coach said. “I believe every player aspires to be a starter, but I think he’s quite content with how things stand at the moment.”
“Ultimately, we deserved this win. The boys gave it their all. I’m very proud of the entire team.”
German defender Jonathan Tah commented, “We have exactly what it takes to thrive in a tournament: a winning mentality and strong team spirit. We never gave up; we kept pushing forward.
“The substitutions injected fresh energy into the game. Deniz deserves special recognition; he was exceptional.”