Germany's Undav may get World Cup start after rescue act against Ivory Coast

Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann indicated that striker Deniz Undav could be in line for his first World Cup start following his dramatic late heroics against Ivory Coast. Undav's two goals in the final minutes secured a crucial 2-1 victory, propelling the four-time champions into the knockout stages for the first time since 2014.

The VfB Stuttgart forward, who has been a revelation coming off the bench, also scored as a substitute in Germany's opening match. His brace on Saturday not only ignited celebrations among German fans at a packed Toronto Stadium but also extended his personal scoring run to an impressive nine goals in his last eight appearances for the national team.

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Maybe he can start next time... I think that every player would love to be in the starting lineup, but I think he's very happy as it is right now.

Nagelsmann acknowledged Undav's compelling case for a starting position, noting his remarkable form. However, the coach expressed caution about disrupting the team's rhythm, emphasizing the importance of scoring and potentially preserving the striker's current flow. Undav, who finished as the Bundesliga's second-highest scorer behind Harry Kane this season, has now become the first German player since Miroslav Klose in 2002 to score in each of his first two World Cup games.

"This is a really important victory. We showed great character today... We want to achieve the most," Undav told reporters after the match. Germany is set to face Ecuador in their final group-stage game, while Ivory Coast will play Curacao.

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This is a really important victory. We showed great character today... We want to achieve the most.