Germany's coach Julian Nagelsmann expressed satisfaction following his team's 2-1 comeback victory against Ivory Coast on June 21, marking their first advancement to the knockout stage of the World Cup since their triumph in 2014. The match took place in Toronto, where Nagelsmann conveyed his happiness about the win, stating, "In the end, we deservedly won it," and described the victory as emotional.

Key Contributions from Undav

Substitute Deniz Undav emerged as the standout player, scoring both goals in the second half to overturn Ivory Coast's initial lead. Nagelsmann praised Undav's ability to adapt quickly during matches, noting, "When (the game) opens up he's really great at moving around." The coach hinted that Undav's impressive performance could lead to a starting position in the upcoming group-stage match against Ecuador, saying, “Maybe he can start next time.”

Focus on Future Matches

Despite the victory, Nagelsmann acknowledged that his team struggled with control early in the match and was not pleased with their performance in the first 10 minutes of the second half. This prompted him to make a triple substitution that ultimately changed the game's dynamics. He emphasized the importance of focusing on their next challenge against Ecuador, stating, "We have high ambitions but I think every team that takes part in the World Cup has high ambitions."

Undav's scoring streak has been remarkable, with his two goals extending his tally to nine in his last eight matches for Germany. He is also the first German player to score in his first two World Cup games since Miroslav Klose in 2002. Following the match, Undav reflected on the team's character and aspirations, saying, “This is a really important victory. We showed great character today... We want to achieve the most.”