Ivory Coast head coach held his pre-match press conference ahead of the team's World Cup 2026 opener against Ecuador — the Elephants' first appearance at the tournament in 12 years. He described the squad's mood as one of confidence and eagerness, noting that the visit to the stadium pitch left the players visibly impressed and motivated.

On the injury front, only Evan Dick remains unavailable, with the rest of the roster fit to play; the coach noted Dick's inclusion in the squad signals a realistic chance of recovery during the tournament. Ecuador were given their due respect: the coach expects a balanced, hard-fought contest decided by fine margins, with both sides coming in high on form.

The game plan is to impose Ivory Coast's own style rather than mirror Ecuador's high-press, possession-based approach, though in-game adjustments remain on the table. Young forward Bazum Natouré, fresh off a strong Bundesliga season and attracting transfer interest, was praised for his composure and full focus on his maiden World Cup.

The coach also flagged a historical footnote he learned during the press conference — Ivory Coast have never beaten a South American side at a World Cup, having lost to Argentina, Colombia and Brazil — framing it as extra motivation for the squad. The overriding message was clear: no points calculations, no comfort zone, just three wins and as deep a run as possible.

Julian Nagelsmann expressed satisfaction with Germany's comprehensive victory over Curacao at the 2026 World Cup, noting his side dominated the opening 15 minutes and could easily have led 2-0 or 3-0 before conceding an equalizer from a deflected shot off Curacao's first attempt. He paid a genuine compliment to Dick Advocaat's side for playing a diamond formation they had never used before and for producing individual quality above expectations.

The second half saw Germany take full control, scoring from set pieces, possession play, and counter-attacks with a variety of different scorers. Nagelsmann highlighted debutant Felix, who won a penalty and scored, as well as substitute Undav, who contributed a goal and two assists.

Manuel Neuer's return to the starting line-up was composed — he dealt calmly with balls in behind the defensive line and provided the team with a sense of security. The coach stressed that while the high-scoring win builds internal confidence, the squad is already fully focused on the next group-stage match against Ivory Coast.