Germany vs Ivory Coast

Germany have rebuilt since their grim 2018–2022 run, with the home Euro 2024 cycle restoring structure and belief. Ivory Coast, continental champions on home soil in 2024, are the most in-form African side of the period. This is a heavyweight group fixture, not a gentle German introduction.

Germany's resurgence is built on midfield control and a reintegrated attacking core — Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz as the creative axis, with a settled defensive structure that the Nagelsmann era restored. Their lingering vulnerability is pace in behind a back line that is organised but not the quickest.

Ivory Coast are athletic, confident and tournament-tested after their 2024 AFCON triumph, with Premier League and Ligue 1 attackers and the directness to exploit exactly that German defensive vulnerability. They will not sit off out of reputation; they have the belief to go toe-to-toe.

Germany's edge is midfield quality — if Musiala and Wirtz dictate, Ivory Coast spend the game chasing. The Ivorian route in is transition pace against the German line, particularly if Germany commit numbers forward. Expect Germany to control possession and territory, with the genuine risk being a counter-attack goal that keeps it close rather than a German runaway.

Germany's midfield superiority should be decisive, but Ivory Coast's quality makes a comfortable margin unlikely. We back Germany to win at 1.65 with medium confidence — backing German control to edge a competitive game, while respecting that the Ivorians' transition threat keeps the handicap and over markets risky.