Undav Off the Bench, Germany Into Last 32

Germany had one foot out of the tournament when Deniz Undav pulled on his bib and strode to the touchline. What followed in Toronto was nothing short of spectacular. The Stuttgart forward, introduced as a substitute, hit a decisive double to turn a losing position into a 2-1 win over Ivory Coast — sending Germany into the Round of 32 and igniting a campaign that had looked in danger.

Undav entered the Ivory Coast clash as a substitute and delivered the most important performance of Germany’s campaign. But this was no one-off — against Curaçao in the opener, he had scored and provided two assists in a commanding win. In just two appearances, Undav has accumulated three goals and two assists, making him one of the deadliest impact players at the entire tournament, despite rarely starting.

The win was more meaningful than three points. Germany entered the tournament dealing with the shock of Schlotterbeck’s tournament-ending ankle injury, leaving the squad shorthanded and under scrutiny. Rather than crumbling, they rallied — and Undav embodied that spirit. Coming from behind against an athletic Ivory Coast side showed a mental fortitude this German squad has often been accused of lacking.

Germany are through, and their secret weapon has barely played a full match. Undav’s extraordinary returns from limited minutes should worry every team left in the draw. When the Germans need a goal in the knockout rounds, they know exactly who to turn to.