Published: June 21, 2026 at 12:26 pm
Germany sealed their place in the knockout stage of the FIFA World Cup 2026 after a thrilling contest against Ivory Coast, with Denis Undav emerging as the hero in a dramatic 2-1 victory. It was a brilliant game of football, filled with intensity, physical battles, attacking moments and late drama.
Both teams started cautiously, keeping things tight in the opening minutes, but Germany thought they had taken an early lead when they found the back of the net. However, the goal was ruled out after Aleksandar Pavlovic was adjudged to have interfered with the goalkeeper by getting his arm between the keeper and the ball, resulting in a free-kick for Ivory Coast.
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After the hydration break, the Ivorians struck first. Captain Franck Kessié fired his side ahead from inside the box after a sensational piece of wing play from highly-rated youngster Yan Diomande.
Germany responded with relentless pressure after going behind, creating multiple chances and having two goals ruled out. Ivory Coast, however, remained disciplined, defending as a unit and using their pace on the flanks to trouble the German backline.
The momentum changed after the introduction of Denis Undav. The Stuttgart forward made an immediate impact, scoring with Germany’s first shot on target of the second half. Pics: X.com
The momentum changed after the introduction of Denis Undav. The Stuttgart forward made an immediate impact, scoring with Germany’s first shot on target of the second half. Undav made a clever late run into the box and calmly converted Nadiem Amiri’s cross with his left foot to bring the Germans level.
With both teams pushing for the winner in a dramatic closing period, Germany showed their championship mentality. In stoppage time, Lukas Nmecha found Undav with a powerful pass, and the forward turned brilliantly before firing past Yahia Fofana from inside the area to complete the comeback.
Ivory Coast’s defensive structure had stood firm for most of the contest, but a momentary lapse in concentration allowed Germany to snatch all three points. After disappointing exits in the previous two editions, Germany have finally booked their place in the knockout stage of the FIFA World Cup 2026, with Denis Undav delivering a memorable match-winning performance.
Brobbey & Gakpo unleash Dutch fury against Sweden
The Dutch were doubted, but the Netherlands responded in emphatic fashion. Ronald Koeman’s side produced a dominant attacking display to sweep aside Sweden 5-1 in their Group F encounter, with Brian Brobbey and Cody Gakpo stealing the show.
The Netherlands made the perfect start, taking the lead inside five minutes. Cody Gakpo picked up possession, looked up and delivered a low cross into the box, where Brian Brobbey calmly side-footed home from close range to give the Oranje an early advantage.
Rather than sitting back, the Dutch continued to apply relentless pressure. Their aggressive approach and quick passing movement unsettled Sweden, who struggled to play out from the back. The pressure paid off again as Brobbey struck for the second time, putting Netherlands firmly in control before the half-hour mark.
Sweden improved after the hydration break and began finding more space through Viktor Gyökeres and Alexander Isak. Gustaf Lagerbielke came closest to pulling one back, heading in from a set piece, but the effort was ruled out for offside as the Netherlands went into the break with a 2-0 lead.
The Orange tide continued after the restart, with Cody Gakpo doubling his impact. Pic: FIFA
The Orange tide continued after the restart, with Gakpo doubling his impact. Within two minutes of the second half, Denzel Dumfries delivered a brilliant ball across the face of goal after a clever move involving Crysencio Summerville, allowing Gakpo to tap in at the back post.
Gakpo added another soon after, cutting inside and firing a low finish into the bottom corner. The goal became the 100th goal of the FIFA World Cup 2026 tournament, underlining the attacking quality on display.
Sweden eventually found a breakthrough when Alexander Isak played a superb through ball from midfield into the path of substitute Anthony Elanga, who kept his composure to finish past Bart Verbruggen.
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However, any hopes of a comeback were quickly ended as Summerville capped off a brilliant cameo with Netherlands’ fifth goal, adding a goal to his assist after constantly troubling the Swedish defence with his pace and direct running.
The final scoreline reflected the difference between the two sides. Sweden created moments but lacked the finishing touch, while the Netherlands were ruthless in the final third and showcased the intensity, movement and attacking quality that makes them a serious contender in Group F.
The Dutch have become only the 8th nation to reach the century mark in FIFA World Cup history.
The 100+ Goal Club: Germany 241, Brazil 239, Argentina 152, France 136, Italy 128, Spain 108, England 104, Netherlands 103.
Fixtures for June 22:
Belgium Vs Iran (12:30 am)
Uruguay Vs Cabo Verde (3:30 am)
New Zealand Vs Egypt (6:30 am)
Argentina Vs Austria (10:30 pm)
Watch the FIFA World Cup 2026 LIVE and exclusively on ZEE5 in Hindi, English, Malayalam, and Bangla.
