Match 34 Preview: Germany vs Ivory Coast

Team Overview

🇩🇪

Germany

Coach: Julian Nagelsmann · Group E

Germany arrive at this World Cup carrying the weight of hosting Euro 2024, where they reached the quarter-finals before a 2-1 extra-time loss to Spain. That tournament showed the world what Nagelsmann's Germany can do at their best — fluid, pressing, attacking, with Musiala and Wirtz as the most exciting creative partnership in the game. Both are fit for this tournament: Musiala recovered from a serious injury suffered at the Club World Cup, and the relief in the German camp was palpable.

Joshua Kimmich captains. Manuel Neuer — who retired from international football after Euro 2024 — has reversed that decision and is set for a remarkable fifth World Cup at 40. Kai Havertz and Niclas Füllkrug provide the striking options. This is a Germany squad with genuine tournament-winning quality, and in Wirtz and Musiala they have two players who could win a match on their own.

⚠ Musiala RecoveryJamal Musiala suffered a serious injury at the Club World Cup but has recovered and is in the squad. Nagelsmann has managed his minutes carefully in warm-up matches — he is expected to be fit but Wirtz may start if Nagelsmann errs on the side of caution.

🇨🇮

Ivory Coast

Coach: Emerse Faé · Group E · AFCON Holders

Ivory Coast are the reigning Africa Cup of Nations champions — they won AFCON in 2024 on home soil in an extraordinary comeback, having been on the verge of elimination in the group stage before winning five knockout games in a row. The coach who masterminded that incredible run, Emerse Faé, remains in charge and has qualified them for their first World Cup since 2014.

The big shock in the squad announcement: Sébastien Haller is not in it. The striker who led the line through AFCON and whose cancer recovery made global headlines has not been selected. Yan Diomande (RB Leipzig) and Bazoumana Toure (Hoffenheim) are the Bundesliga youngsters Faé is backing. Simon Adingra (Brighton), Wilfried Zaha (if fit), and Nicolas Pépé provide the attacking quality. This is a young, fast, dangerous side — but facing Germany is a severe test.

🚨 Haller Not SelectedSébastien Haller — the striker who recovered from testicular cancer to lead Ivory Coast's AFCON triumph — has not been included in the 26-man World Cup squad. A surprise and significant absence from Ivory Coast's attack.

Key Duel

Florian Wirtz

Germany · Attacking Midfielder

Bayer Leverkusen. The best player in the Bundesliga last season — creative, direct, impossible to pin down. Alongside Musiala, they form the most exciting creative duo at this tournament. Ivory Coast's defensive structure is the first real test of whether the partnership translates to the World Cup stage.

⚡

Simon Adingra

Ivory Coast · Forward

Brighton. Quick, direct, and capable of creating something from nothing with a burst of pace. Ivory Coast's most dangerous attacking threat now that Haller is absent. If he gets in behind Germany's high defensive line, the scoreline stays interesting.

Predicted Score

🇩🇪 Germany

Ivory Coast 🇨🇮

3 – 0

Wirtz goal · Musiala assist · Havertz header · Neuer barely tested · Ivory Coast competitive first half

Hot Takes

Take 01

Manuel Neuer at 40, at a fifth World Cup, is one of the extraordinary late-career stories of this tournament. He retired from international football after Euro 2024 — said it was the right time, thanked everyone, received a standing ovation. Then apparently changed his mind. Nagelsmann called him back. Nobody could say no to Neuer in a Germany shirt. He will make a save in this match that a 25-year-old couldn't make and the German press will write 800 words about whether he was ever actually retired.

Take 02

Wirtz and Musiala together is one of the most technically gifted midfield combinations Germany have had since the peak of Özil and Kroos. They read each other intuitively, they're both comfortable under pressure, and they both have the pace to beat a defender one-on-one. Ivory Coast will set up a mid-block to absorb pressure, and the question is whether Wirtz and Musiala can unlock it. They will. It may take until the 55th minute, but they will.

Take 03

Haller's absence from the Ivory Coast squad is genuinely shocking. This is a man who survived testicular cancer, returned to club football, led Ivory Coast to the AFCON title on home soil, and was one of the tournament's defining stories. Faé's reasons for leaving him out are unclear. Whatever they are, facing Germany without your most experienced striker is not ideal preparation for a match you need to get something from.

Verdict

Make Your Prediction

Think you can predict the group better than us?Z9U8XXPlay on bracketmachine.app →