Ivory Coast ‘Coming to Beat’ Germany, Says Coach Emerse Fae Before World Cup Clash

Fae backs AFCON winners to challenge 4-time champions

Ivory Coast face 4-time champions Germany in Toronto on Saturday. Coach Fae says six clean sheets in 10 games and two years together have built confidence in his squad.

Fae says Ivory Coast Confidence growing ahead of Germany Group E showdown...

Ivory Coast coach Emerse Fae said Friday his side are going into their World Cup match against Germany with one goal - and “saving face” isn’t it.

When asked if four-time world champions Germany would be too much for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations winners, Fae made Ivory Coast’s plan clear ahead of Saturday’s Group E game in Toronto.

“We're not coming to watch ‌the Germans play. We're coming to beat them, we're coming to get that qualification for the second round,” said Fae.

“But above all, we want ‌to go home after the game tomorrow ⁠to our base camp in ‌Philadelphia not only with our six points, but also the certainty that we'll finish top of the pack.”

Ivory Coast snatched a late win in their opener as Amad Diallo struck in the 90th minute to beat Ecuador 1-0. Now the West Africans want back-to-back wins to start a World Cup for the first time.

Germany took a different route, with six different players scoring in their 7-1 demolition of World Cup newcomers Curacao.

Fae said Ivory Coast won’t change how they play. He pointed out the squad has been together for over two years and their confidence keeps growing.

“We've been growing together, and it's not the eve of a game that we're going to change what we're used to,” said Fae. “We want to control the game, we want to play to our strengths, and we want to try and limit our weaknesses.

“But we prepared for Germany like we prepared ‌for any other game.”

Fae also dismissed the idea that the underdog tag would bother his team. His side have kept six clean sheets in their last 10 matches and have been dominant defensively.