Undav double sends Germany into World Cup knockout stage

Deniz Undav scored twice in Germany's 2-1 comeback win over Ivory Coast, sending the team into the World Cup knockout stage for the first time since 2014.

The 29-year-old forward now has three goals and two assists in two substitute appearances. That total of five goal involvements matches the joint-most by any substitute at a World Cup since 1966.

Undav's place in the squad had looked uncertain after a public disagreement with coach Julian Nagelsmann. The row followed Undav's last-minute winner as a substitute against Ghana in March, when the striker said he wanted to push for a starting role. Nagelsmann warned him against adding pressure and later said he had apologized.

Since then Undav has answered with his play. He has nine goals in 11 internationals and is now in contention to start Germany's final group match against Ecuador on Thursday.

"Yes, definitely," Nagelsmann said after the Ivory Coast game when asked if Undav could start. "Why should I ruin his flow? He came in twice and got goals twice."

Undav became the first German to score in his first two World Cup appearances since Miroslav Klose in 2002. The path to this point was long. Werder Bremen released him at 14 because he was considered too small. At 17 he earned £120 a week as a semi-professional in Germany's fourth tier while working eight-hour factory shifts.

"When Werder told me at 14 that I didn't have a future with them because I was too small, it broke my heart," Undav told Belgian outlet 7sur7. "I got up around 4am, went to the factory, then I went to training and got back home around 8pm."

Undav moved to Union Saint-Gilloise in Belgium in 2020, helped the club win promotion, and scored 25 goals in the top flight. Brighton signed him, but after five goals in 22 Premier League games he was loaned to Stuttgart and joined the club permanently in 2024. He scored 19 Bundesliga goals in 2025-26, second only to Harry Kane, and earned his World Cup call-up.