It’s a step-up in class for Germany this evening as they prepare to face Cote d’Ivoire in Group E.
Nationalmannschaft coasted to a 7-1 win over whipping boys Curacao in Round 1 but now face a side who were also victorious in the first round of group games.
The Elephants were late winners over Ecuador, building on an excellent defensive record in qualification with a first World Cup clean sheet since 2010.
Kick-off in tonight’s match is at 21:00 BST.
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TEAM NEWS
Germany’s starting XI is unchanged tonight after their mauling of Curacao.
Emerse Faé has his own twist on the ‘never change a winning side’ mantra.
He’s made five alterations from the Ecuador game, rewarding Amad Diallo ($5.9m) for his match-winning goal with a promotion to the line-up.
In fact, all five substitutes who came on in Round 1, all before Diallo’s winner, are given a chance to shine from the start.
Odilon Kossounou ($4.3m), Ibrahim Sangare ($5.8m), Ange-Yoan Bonny ($4.9m) and Christ Inao Oulai ($4.6m) are the others.
Dropping out are the five players who came off against Ecuador. They are Guela Doue ($3.9m), Bazoumana Toure ($4.5m), Seko Fofana ($6.8m), Elye Wahl ($5.9m) and Nicolas Pepe ($5.9m).
LINE-UPS
Germany XI: Neuer, Kimmich, Tah, Schlotterbeck, Brown, Nmecha, Pavlovic, Sane, Musiala, Wirtz, Havertz.
Subs: Amiri, Anton, Baumann, Beier, Goretzka, Gross, Leweling, Nubel, Ouedraogo, Raum, Rüdiger, Stiller, Thiaw, Undav.
Côte d’Ivoire XI: Y Fofana, Singo, Kossounou, Agbadou, Konan, Diallo, Kessie, Sangare, Yan Diomande, Bonny, Oulai.
Subs: Adringra, Diakite, O Diomande, Doue, S Fofana, Guessand, Guiagon, Kone, Lafont, Ndicka, Operi, Pepe, Seri, Toure, Wahi.
