Nagelsmann warns against Ivory Coast speed ahead of Group E clash

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/germany/ptQide1O/"]Germany[/a] steamrolled past tournament debutants [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/curacao/bLLGpOkQ/"]Curacao[/a] with a 7-1 ‌victory in their opening match last week ‌while [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ivory-coast/G2FRjBgn/"]Ivory Coast[/a] nabbed a late winner to secure ‌a 1-0 win over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ecuador/8tbm8Tri/"]Ecuador[/a].[/p][p]Nagelsmann said the 2023 ‌Africa Cup of Nations winners will present some problems for his side when they meet in a Group ‌E clash on Saturday.[/p][p][b]"They have great ⁠defence. They have, ‌on all three front positions, a lot of speed," Nagelsmann ​told reporters via a translator in Toronto. [/b][/p][p][b]"During the last game with (Ivory Coast forward [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/pepe-nicolas/j3Hk0qEj/"]Nicolas[/a]) ​Pepe, he was really not reachable. He was everywhere."[/b][/p][p]Nagelsmann said the West Africans' strength in the ⁠middle of the ​pitch is also a threat, but he and his players have been working to find solutions.[/p][p][b]"We took some measures and prepared accordingly so we can ‌take away as much strength as possible," said Nagelsmann. "We will not always be successful because they are just too good, but we will play our own match."[/b][/p][image alt="Germany - Ivory Coast win probability" id="dcaf02bf-6f45-4cc2-b45f-e9dabbcd5750" credit-line="Opta by StatsPerform" guid="9fe2832b-c9ca-449c-92a8-989d6abcba0a" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p]Nagelsmann also defended forward [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sane-leroy/GlTyfr8U/"]Leroy Sane[/a] following criticism of the 30-year-old's performance against Curacao. The Galatasaray winger was not on the scoresheet in the rout despite playing the full 90 minutes.[/p][p][b]"It ‌bothers me because I don't like it when (reporters) ​write something like this about my players," Nagelsmann ‌said.[/b][/p][p][b]"But I think he has to convince you to write better about him," he added. "I don't think it changes his self-confidence. It helps when he has a good match, and ⁠then tomorrow he will ⁠have a good ‌match as well."[/b][/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/germany-ptQide1O/ivory-coast-G2FRjBgn/?mid=SMzorJsm"]Follow the game with Flashscore.[/a][/p][infobox id="4ccc1b10-d68f-4c97-bcf4-5e613c17c2e3" /]