Source : the age
And some save it is. Holy smokes, that’s top drawer. It’s a dive to the left built on reflex and the skill of perhaps Africa’s best goalkeeper, to parry away a volley from Brown that is hit so beautifully it absolutely would have given this game to Germany.
There will be six added minutes.
Germany 1-1 Ivory Coast, 89 minutes
Nagelsmann is losing it with officials over what he seems to deem a disproportionately theatrical response to an innocuous moment. Basically what’s happened is that Singo manages to hold Havertz off the ball in a little tussle that’s nothing to write home about, but then the defender drops to the turf and is lying on his back.
His prone position stops a quick throw for Germany, and both the manager and the thousands of fans display their displeasure at the apparent gamesmanship – Fofana had done some serious rolling around not that long ago so it’s a fair response.
But it seems Singo has actually injured his hamstring and he soon leaves the pitch, replaced by Doue, and is sat in the dugout crying.
Germany 1-1 Ivory Coast, 81 minutes
This is a subs goal. A super-subs goal, if you will. Amiri is on the ball outside on the right and flashes a diagonal cross that’s heading straight for the goalmouth. Undav is there for the point-blank volley. That’s what Germany had been chasing, and they have been improved since a triple substitution on the hour mark when this pair and Leweling were brought on to replace Sane, Musiala and Pavlovic.
Germany 1-1 Ivory Coast, 68 minutes
Ivory Coast make the German team wait on the pitch, running out a little late after the break. But if it’s mind games their opponents take no notice, and it’s only a matter of minutes before Brown releases Musiala, who cuts inside and shoots wide.
But then, Germany find themselves on the back foot as Kessie, the opening goalscorer, combines with Diallo in a promising move that sparks more promising moves. Diomande volleys wide in the latest.
This is looking a little ominous for Germany, and let’s not forget this nation have been knocked out in the group stage at every World Cup since winning the thing in 2014. That 7-1 opening defeat of Curacao was straightforward enough but Ecuador later this coming week will be another prospect entirely.
P.S. Schlotterbeck called it a day at half-time and has been replaced by Rudiger.
Germany 0-1 Ivory Coast, 57 minutes
The opening goal has triggered a flurry of attacks and counter-attacks.
First, Neuer thwarts an attempt from Bonny from outside the box.
Then, Havertz thinks he’s equalised for Germany only to be overruled by a foul in the lead-up. The call is made against Musiala, who wins the ball from Kossounou but trips him in the process. Wirtz then plays it to Havertz and he scores. Except that he doesn’t score, and Germany have two disallowed goals in this first half.
Seven minutes of added time does not alter the status quo.
How about that hydration break. The lively Diomande is once again deadly down the left and beats his man before spiralling in a cross. Diallo is the one in position to score, and he tries, though Neuer blocks his shot. The ball ricochets back out to Kessie slightly on the right, and he hits it into the bottom left of the net.
Against the run of play, that was. Germany have had the possession and the composure, but Ivory Coast now have the goal. It wakes them up, and now the game has begun.
Germany 0-1 Ivory Coast, 30 minutes
Nico Schlotterbeck, the German defender, has been battling against some sort of lower-limb complaint for a few minutes. He eventually sits down on the turf and awaits treatment. Then he’s off the pitch having his ankle(?) seen to and, just as it seems as if his day might be over, he sees out his regulation one-minute absence and returns to the pitch.
Just before the first hydration break, Pavlovic buries a corner in an aerial challenge with Fofana, but his celebrations are cut short when the referee rules a foul against the goalkeeper. The goal won’t stand.
Germany 0-0 Ivory Coast, 26 minutes
Germany have started as if they intent to keep possession for the entire 90 minutes. Still, they opt for a long ball to start and Havertz gets on the end of it and shoots it well over the bar.
Germany 0-0 Ivory Coast, 5 minutes
Germany: Neuer; Kimmich, Tah, Schlotterbeck, Brown; Nmecha, Pavlovic; Sane, Musiala, Wirtz; Havertz Subs: Amiri, Anton, Baumann, Beier, Goretzka, Gross, Leweling, Nubel, Ouedraogo, Raum, Rüdiger, Stiller, Thiaw, Undav
Ivory Coast: Y Fofana; Singo, Kossounou, Agbadou, Konan; Diallo, Kessie, Sangare, Yan Diomande; Bonny, Oulai Subs: Adringra, Diakite, O Diomande, Doue, S Fofana, Guessand, Guiagon, Kone, Lafont, Ndicka, Operi, Pepe, Seri, Toure, Wahi
