Germany knows that a second Group E win will amount to guaranteed progression to the World Cup knockout phase for the first time since winning the competition 12 years ago.
In Côte d’Ivoire, the four-time champion faces a team chasing its own history. Having beaten Ecuador narrowly last time out, it too has the knockout phase within its grasp, which would be a first for the West African nation after routine group stage exits in every prior appearance.
