Germany reaches World Cup knockout round for first time since 2014

Germany Advances to World Cup Knockouts for First Time Since 2014

Substitute Deniz Undav struck twice in the second half, including a 94th-minute winner, to complete a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over Ivory Coast on Saturday and send Germany into the World Cup knockout rounds for the first time in 12 years.

The result at Toronto Stadium ended a painful stretch for the four-time champions, who had suffered consecutive group-stage eliminations at the 2018 tournament in Russia and the 2022 edition in Qatar. With two wins from two matches, Julian Nagelsmann’s side now sit atop Group E.espn

Undav’s Late Heroics Rescue Germany

Franck Kessié opened the scoring for Ivory Coast in the 30th minute, and the African champions’ defence frustrated Germany throughout a tense first half in which two German goals were disallowed. Nagelsmann introduced Undav as part of a triple substitution on the hour mark, and the Stuttgart striker repaid his manager’s faith eight minutes later, volleying in a cross from Nadiem Amiri to equalize.mid-day

Germany pushed for a winner deep into stoppage time, and Undav delivered in the 94th minute, sparking wild celebrations among the heavily pro-German crowd of 43,036 in Toronto. It was a fitting moment of redemption for a nation that had endured the humiliation of finishing bottom of their group in 2018 and missing out on goal difference in 2022.skysports

Netherlands Rout Sweden in Houston

Earlier on Saturday, the Netherlands delivered a statement performance in Houston, routing Sweden 5-1 to earn their first win of the 2026 World Cup and move to the top of Group F.espn

Sunderland forward Brian Brobbey, making his first start of the tournament, scored twice in the opening 17 minutes — registering the fourth-fastest brace in World Cup history, according to FotMob. Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo added two more shortly after halftime, the second of which was the 100th goal of the tournament. Crysencio Summerville completed the rout in the 89th minute, with Anthony Elanga’s 59th-minute strike the lone consolation for Graham Potter’s Sweden.fotmob

What Comes Next

Germany’s qualification marks a turning point for a program that had been in crisis since its shock first-round exit as defending champions in Russia eight years ago. The Netherlands, meanwhile, now control their own fate heading into their final group match against Tunisia.dw