Deep into stoppage time in Toronto, with Germany trailing 1-0 and facing the prospect of an early World Cup exit, Deniz Undav latched onto Felix Nmecha's pass and slotted home. The stadium erupted. Die Mannschaft had sealed a dramatic 2-1 comeback win over Ivory Coast — and their place in the knockout stages for the first time since their victorious 2014 campaign.
It was Undav's second goal of the night. Introduced as a substitute, he had earlier levelled matters with a lethal finish after being set up by fellow substitute Nadiem Amiri. Franck Kessie had given the Ivory Coast the lead midway through the first half, bundling home Yan Diomande's cross. Kai Havertz thought he had equalised before the break, but his strike was ruled out for a foul. Germany's pressure mounted in the second half, and it took two substitutes to haul them level.
“Deniz Undav's stoppage-time winner sent Germany into World Cup knockout stages, capping a rise from factory worker to national hero.”
Undav's double underlined his value. With three goals and two assists in two appearances off the bench, he now has five goal involvements — the joint-most by a substitute at a World Cup since 1966, tying Cameroon's Roger Milla in 1990. He also became the first German to score in his first two World Cup appearances since Miroslav Klose in 2002.
Not bad for a striker whose place in the squad was uncertain after a public row with manager Julian Nagelsmann. After Undav scored a last-gasp winner as a substitute against Ghana in March, he spoke openly about wanting to start. Nagelsmann responded by warning he was placing unnecessary pressure on himself, suggesting Undav would not have scored from the start. The manager later revealed he had apologised.
Undav has since let his football do the talking. After Saturday's win, Nagelsmann was asked if the 29-year-old could start Germany's final group game against Ecuador on Thursday. "Yes, definitely," he said. "I said before we can talk a lot about the different approaches. Why should I ruin his flow? He came in twice and got goals twice."
This is the latest chapter in a journey that began with rejection. At 14, Werder Bremen told Undav he was too small to have a future with them. "It broke my heart," he told Belgian outlet 7sur7. But he did not abandon hope. At 17, he left home to sign for Havelse in the German fourth division, combining training with eight-hour shifts operating a laser machine in a factory. He earned £120 a week, waking at 4am, working, then training, and returning home around 8pm — "before doing it all again the next day."
Now he has nine goals in 11 international appearances and has sent Germany into the knockout rounds. The Ivory Coast, meanwhile, still have work to do to secure their own spot. Germany face Ecuador next, and Nagelsmann may finally hand Undav the starting role he has long craved.