Germany v Côte d’Ivoire: World Cup 2026 – live | World Cup 2026

Manuel Neuer is back between the sticks for Germany after coming out of international retirement aged 40. I can offer some insight that he prepared for the tournament with a holiday in Mallorca.

It feels like a big summer and season ahead for Amad Diallo. He has done reasonably well for Manchester United but I still debate if he can take them forward in the Champions League. He needs to show he can move up a couple of levels and thriving at a World Cup would help that.

Andrew Goudie emails: “Lineker is all well and good, but Duncan Ferguson is the break-out pundit of the tournament.”

I did interview Big Dunc during his spell at Forest Green, so I am not surprised his personality has shone in Brooklyn.

Nick Ames was on hand to watch Netherlands give Sweden a bit of a shooing.

Lineker, however, is happy to have a pop at the pricing, taking aim at Fifa.

Mark Bullingham is on ITV and bottles a question on the cost of tickets at this World Cup and how it has priced out many England fans. A rather cowardly response in my opinion.

Gary Lineker is on ITV. What a world we live in.

Germany (4-2-3-1): 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

Cote D’Ivoire (4-4-2): 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

Some cracking larks in the Germany training camp where they have come face-to-face with venomous snakes in North Carolina.

“We saw a snake yesterday, we were told it was venomous. If you get bitten, you have to go to the hospital,” the midfielder Joshua Kimmich said. “I don’t think you’ll die, but it’s certainly dangerous. I have the feeling that if you step on a snake like that, it can end badly.

“That’s why we’re trying to keep our distance from animals here. I have respect for the people here. In Germany, I have the feeling there aren’t so many dangerous animals.”

Where are the Germans? Marching through Toronto it transpires and they really do care.

The Dutch lads are doing the business against Sweden to make a certain Mr Messi worried. Check out the Golden Boot standings.

Your daily England news.

There are no shortage of whispers around Yan Diomande’s future and how much it will cost Liverpool to sign him for RB Leipzig. The German club may hope he prospers tonight and they can shuck a few more quick onto the price tag.

Jamal Musiala was good against Curacao as a No 10. I will be interested to see how he copes against the Ivorians.

While you’re waiting for this one, join John Brewin for Netherlands v Sweden.

Pre-match reading.

A win for either side here would put them through to the next round, so it is quite a big event. In an elongated tournament, the prospect of being able to rest some players for the final group game will be very important.

Germany were able to breeze past Curacao in their opening game, hitting seven. Not enough teams have been ruthless at this tournament but Julian Nagelsmann’s side showed they have the attacking capabilities required to go a long way, even if some will point to the quality of the opposition.

A very late Amad Diallo goal edged Côte d’Ivoire past Ecuador but that will have boosted confidence. Elye Wahi is at the centre of a spot-fixing investigation in France but has been allowed to enter Canada after some confusion. It will be interesting to see if he can focus on the match.

Let’s hope for a cracker!