Nagelsmann eyes same German lineup against I. Coast after Curacao trouncing / Photo: Paul ELLIS - AFP
-
Vietnam signs free trade deal with four European nations
-
Dozens of orangutans saved from Indonesia blazes
-
One million migrating raptors dodge illegal hunters above Georgia's Black Sea coast
-
Ordinary day, extraordinary times: Kyiv under Russian attack
-
Rays defeat Guardians to level MLB playoff series
-
What is holding up the US-India trade deal?
-
Western brands under pressure as 'pre-owned' luxury booms in China
-
Oxygen tanks, purifier sales spike as haze crisis hits Southeast Asia
-
'Never seen anything like it': mass looting grips Paris
-
Messi brace lifts Inter Miami to 3-1 win in Atlanta
-
All Blacks back on track after South Africa wake-up
-
Japan to launch historic round-trip mission to Mars moon
-
Met Opera goes for big and bold, despite shaky finances
-
Musk back in the spotlight, but politics dims the awe
-
Hollywood's fresh take on tech titans: from heroes to villains
-
England Rugby League World Cup hopes hang by a thread
-
St. Louis City's unbeaten MLS run ends at 19, Union's reaches 15
-
Williams lifts Valkyries past Dream in WNBA Finals opener
-
NFL Eagles bench Hurts at least a month with blood clot
-
Dubois destroys Wardley to retain WBO heavyweight crown
-
Across US, 'No Kings' events seek to boost early voting
-
Oregon families grapple with explaining school shooting to children
-
Tents spring up in Lisbon as Portugal housing protests spread
-
Israeli settlers attack European diplomats, beat French mayor
-
'Best in world' Yamal powers Barca to Betis rout, Atletico strike late
-
Town hall in Limoges 'largely lost' to blaze set during French protests
-
El Salvador's Bukele puts conditions on early release of gang prisoners
-
US goes on the offensive in central Asia
-
Fire rages at town hall in France's Limoges after protests: authorities
-
Emotional Lions come up short in Champions Cup as tributes paid to Andrews
-
Unstoppable Barca thrash Betis to extend perfect start
-
Diaz dazzles as Bayern batter Leipzig to go top
-
Maresca faces anxious wait over Haaland injury scare
-
Inter move clear at Serie A summit with Bologna win
-
PSG fight back to beat Strasbourg after Dembele penalty miss
-
Liverpool still have 'lots to improve', says match-winner Isak
-
Looting, blazes and clashes in France amid nationwide protests
-
Looters ransack shops during France cost-of-living protests
-
Walsh breaks her own 50 free world short course record
-
Leinster thump Clermont as grieving Lions set for Champions Cup debut
-
Haaland brace extends Man City's winning start in Premier League
-
Haaland stars in Man City win, Liverpool beat Brentford
-
'Special' Ombudsman storms to victory in Champion Stakes
-
Dortmund go top despite Union Berlin stalemate
-
Brazil's right embraces election betting odds amid polls skepticism
-
Venezia upset Napoli for first Serie A win of season
-
Four more Ebola cases detected in Kenya, bringing total to seven
-
Glasgow and Bulls win as grieving Lions set for Champions Cup debut
-
Clashes erupt in France as protesters vow to make government 'tremble'
-
Smiling pope returns to Vatican after cancer surgery
Nagelsmann eyes same German lineup against I. Coast after Curacao trouncing
German coach Julian Nagelsmann said Friday he sees no reason to change a lineup that hammered World Cup debutants Curacao last week for his side's second match against Ivory Coast.
The West African side is likely to pose a much stiffer test for Germany in their match at Toronto Stadium on Saturday, but Nagelsmann said he was confident about his team's readiness.
"There's no obvious reason to change anything," he told reporters, adding: "We will sleep on it and see if everybody wakes up fit and well tomorrow, and then we'll take a decision."
Nagelsmann came to the defence of Leroy Sane, whose performance against Curacao was questioned.
The criticism "was really not justified after that game."
"Some say he's not eager enough, but he really moved around a lot during that game," Nagelsmann said.
Nagelsmann, who took over the German national team in 2023, is looking to lead his country out of the World Cup group stage for the first time since the 2014 tournament in Brazil, which Germany won.
He said his team had to be ready for Ivory Coast's fitness, defence and speed.
"Their speed is one of their biggest strengths and that's what I think they do best," he told reporters, highlighting the French-born Ivorian winger Nicolas Pepe.
"During the last game, he was everywhere," Nagelsmann said of Pepe.
"We took some measures and prepared accordingly so we can take away as much strength as possible. We will not always be successful because they are just too good," Nagelsmann said of the West African side.
The match will have particular significance for German defender Jonathan Tah, whose father was born in Ivory Coast.
"It's true that this is going to be something special," Tah told reporters ahead of Saturday's match.
Ivorian coach Emerse Fae said his side was heading into the match eyeing a win and top place in Group E.
"I don't think that it's just about saving face. That's not what we're about, and that will never be the case," Fae said.
"We're coming to beat them."
Asked what he was expecting from the Germans on Saturday, Fae said: "I'm hoping that they're going to let us win."
Y.Nakamura--AMWN