Joshua Kimmich is wary of the “wonderful attacking players” Ivory Coast have as Germany aim to make it two World Cups in Group E.
Die Mannschaft beat Curacao 7-1 in their first game, eventually winning after seeing their opening goal canceled out by a historic goal for the youngest nation to ever enter the competition.
The Ivory Coast promises to give a tough test, as the Elephants left late beating Ecuador 1-0 in their first game.
Emerse Fae’s side were lucky not to go behind as Ecuador hit the woodwork several times, before Amad Diallo scored the winner in the 90th minute to put Ivory Coast on course to reach the knockout rounds for the first time in their history.
Liverpool target Yan Diomande has impressed against the Ivory Coast, and Kimmich has identified him as a danger man as Germany aim to keep a clean sheet for the first time in eight World Cup games.
Regarding Diomande, Kimmich said: “Last year nobody knew him. He had a great season, although RB Leipzig had a few problems.
“He has amazing speed, but there are other good players that we have to prepare, they have attacking players.
“We all have the same goal, and that gives us good energy. At the moment, it’s working very well; we’ve won 10 games in a row now and we’re on the right track.”
Diomande, for his part, knows that Germany has plenty of talent that could hurt Ivory Coast’s hopes of an upset.
“When you play in Germany, you quickly realize that everything there is very organized. Discipline is very important, punctuality, intensity in training,” said Diomande.
“I learned a lot because of that, on and off the field. Germany is a very strong team; they don’t give up and fight until the end. Add to that their individual quality. That makes them very strong.
“Florian Wirtz, for example, is a smart player who finds solutions in the final third, even in tight spaces. Such players can change the game with one action.”
Germany v Ivory Coast team news
Germany have no new injury worries, but could make a change up front following Deniz Undav’s fine performance against Curacao.
The Ivory Coast will have Elye Wahi after the decision to deny him entry to Canada was overturned.
The prediction is that Germany v Ivory Coast will be played
Germany: Neuer; Kimmich, Tah, Schlotterbeck, Brown; Pavlovic, Nmecha; Havertz, Musiala, Wirtz; Undav.
Ivory Coast: Y. Fofana; Doue, Singo, Agbadou, Konan; Diallo, Kessie, S. Fofana, Diomande; Bonny, Toure
Where to watch Germany v Ivory Coast: TV and streaming online
Germany v Ivory Coast kicks off at 9:00pm on Saturday UK time. It will be broadcast on ITV1 and STV. It will be available to stream on ITVX and STV Player. Sky subscribers can stream the game via Sky Go.
Germany v Ivory Coast stats
- Ivory Coast is aiming to win more games in the World Cup for the first time.
- Germany did not keep a clean sheet in the last seven matches of the World Cup.
- Die Mannschaft have won their last 10 games, marking Germany’s longest winning streak since a run of 12 games between May 1979 and June 1980 under Josef Derwall.
- Germany have not won their first two World Cup matches since 2006, when they beat Costa Rica and Poland in the semi-finals.
- This will be the second match between Germany and Ivory Coast, where they drew 2-2 in November 2009.
- Germany has lost one out of eight World Cup matches against African opponents (W5, D2). That defeat came when they were beaten 2-1 by Algeria in 1982.
- Ivory Coast have won one of their four World Cup matches against European opponents (D1, L2). The Elephants beat Serbia and Montenegro 3-2 in 2006 after their group stage exit.
Germany v Ivory Coast prediction
This will be Germany’s toughest test after the win over Curacao, but it’s a challenge Nagelsmann’s men must overcome.
Prediction: Germany 2-1 Ivory Coast
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