Deniz Undav's late double sends Germany into Round of 16

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7 days · 11 summary articles
Germany secured its first knockout-stage berth since 2014 on Saturday night, defeating Ivory Coast 2-1 in a nervy Group C finale that saw Deniz Undav emerge as the tournament’s breakout star with two goals in the final 15 minutes. The victory, sealed by Niclas Füllkrug’s 89th-minute strike, means Hansi Flick’s side top the group and face either Denmark or Serbia in the Round of 16.
Undav, a 27-year-old factory worker turned emergency striker, has become the feel-good story of the tournament after being discarded by Werder Bremen and later working on an assembly line. His first goal, a composed finish in the 74th minute, triggered his trademark celebration: a pointed finger to his shirt name and a clenched fist raised skyward. The second, a glancing header in stoppage time, completed a 180-degree turnaround from the player who once trained alone on factory breaks. “I’m over the moon,” Undav told reporters after the match. “This is for everyone who ever doubted me.”
The match itself was a chaotic affair in Cologne, with Ivory Coast dominating early and hitting the woodwork three times before Sébastien Haller equalised on 45 minutes. Flick’s substitution of Undav for the injured Kai Havertz at half-time proved decisive, and the Stuttgart striker’s brace capped a dramatic finale. Ivory Coast coach Emerse Faé later accused Germany of “lacking fair play” after a 80th-minute incident involving midfielder Jean-Philippe Krasso, though replays showed no clear wrongdoing.
Elsewhere, the Netherlands crushed Sweden 5-1 in Stuttgart, with Brian Brobbey’s physical presence drawing praise from teammates. Japan marked the 1,000th World Cup match in history by thrashing Tunisia 4-0 in Monterrey, while debutants Curaçao claimed their first-ever point with a 1-1 draw against Ecuador. The result leaves the Caribbean side level on three points with Ecuador and still in contention for a knockout berth.
In Hamburg, 30 to 40 masked assailants attacked football fans in the early hours of Sunday, prompting police to deploy water cannons. The violence followed celebrations of Germany’s victory and came as FIFA confirmed that referee Daniel Zwayer would remain in the tournament despite earlier controversies.
With the group stage complete, focus now shifts to Sunday’s fixtures: Spain face Saudi Arabia in Al Khor at 18:00 local time, followed by Belgium vs Iran in Doha at 21:00. Uruguay and Cape Verde meet at midnight, while New Zealand and Egypt close the day’s play at 03:00.
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