When the chips are down and the clock is ticking, you need a cool head and a sharper instinct. Germany found both in Deniz Undav. His 94th minute fini...
When the chips are down and the clock is ticking, you need a cool head and a sharper instinct. Germany found both in Deniz Undav. His 94th minute finish was not just a goal; it was a statement of intent. Having fallen behind to a stubborn Ivory Coast side that had defended with a disciplined low block for much of the contest, Die Mannschaft faced the very real prospect of frustration. But this is a team that has rediscovered its edge, a side that no longer panics when the plan goes awry.The Ivorians had their moments on the counter, exploiting gaps in the German midfield with sharp transitional play. For stretches of the second half, it felt as though the Elephants might hold on, their physicality and organisation asking questions of Julian Nagelsmann's tactical flexibility. Yet Germany kept probing, kept moving the ball with increasing urgency. They did not settle for a point. They refused to accept a draw.Then came the moment. A scramble in the box, bodies everywhere, the ball bouncing like an angry jackrabbit. Many a player would have lashed at it, hoping for the best. Undav, however, took that extra second. He composed himself, shifted his weight, and planted a clinical finish into the bottom corner. The stadium erupted. The bench emptied. Germany were through. It was the kind of ending that reminds you why we love this beautiful, brutal game. Squeaky bum time Absolutely. But they held their nerve.What does this tell us about Germany's prospects They are not yet the finished article, but they possess something even more valuable in knockout football: resilience. They can win ugly. They can win late. And they have a matchwinner in Undav, a player who seems to thrive when the pressure is at its highest. For Ivory Coast, there is no shame in this defeat; they pushed a heavyweight to the brink and only wilted in the dying embers. But for Germany, the journey continues. The question now is just how far this newfound grit can carry them.
