After 2-1 Germany Heartbreak, Ivory Coast Eye Historic Knockout Berth

Ivory Coast are determined to put their heartbreaking defeat to Germany behind them and focus on the bigger picture as they prepare for a decisive final group stage clash against Curacao at the FIFA World Cup .

The Elephants came agonisingly close to securing a historic place in the knockout rounds on Saturday, only to see their hopes temporarily delayed after surrendering a lead and suffering a 2-1 defeat to Germany. Despite the setback, the African side remains firmly in control of its destiny. A victory against Curacao on Thursday will be enough to secure progression to the next stage for the first time in the nation's four World Cup appearances.

For much of the contest against Germany, Ivory Coast looked the stronger side. The team dictated large portions of the game and took a deserved lead through Franck Kessié , whose first-half strike silenced the German supporters packed inside the stadium.

However, the momentum shifted in the latter stages as Deniz Undav scored twice for Germany, including the decisive winner, turning celebrations into disappointment for the Ivory Coast players and fans.

The defeat left a visible sense of frustration within the squad, with several players acknowledging the pain of losing a match they believed was within their grasp. Yet there is little time to dwell on the disappointment, with a potentially historic opportunity still awaiting them.

Forward Amad Diallo stressed that the team remains motivated and determined to create history for the country.

"We have respect for ourselves, but we want to make history for Cote d'Ivoire," Diallo said, expressing confidence that the squad will respond positively and approach the next match with the right mentality.

On paper, Ivory Coast will enter the Curacao encounter as favourites. Ranked 31st in the FIFA world rankings , the African nation sits well above Curacao, which is ranked 83rd . The Caribbean side also endured a difficult start to its campaign, suffering a heavy 7-1 defeat to Germany .

Still, Diallo warned against complacency, insisting that the team's full attention remains on its own performance rather than the opposition.

The stakes could hardly be higher. A win would erase the disappointment of the Germany defeat and deliver a landmark achievement for a talented new generation of Ivory Coast footballers eager to leave their mark on the global stage.