Nagelsmann eyes same German lineup against Ivory 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.”