Ivory Coast nearly beating Germany was not a surprise to anyone who's been watching
Ivory Coast narrowly lost 2-1 to Germany in a FIFA World Cup match after a competitive performance. Despite the loss, the young Ivorian team remains in a strong position to advance to the knockout stages.
Why it matters
The performance of the youngest squad in the tournament signals a potential shift in competitive balance for African football on the global stage.
Ivory Coast made no secret of their stated aims ahead of their second FIFA World Cup game against Germany on Saturday: beat Germany in Toronto and secure top spot in Group E. It was so close to coming true.
The article provides a standard sports analysis of match events and team prospects.
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