Germany vs Ivory Coast - World Cup Group E LIVE: Julian Nagelsmann's side aim to qualify for the knockout stages

Phoarrrr, that could have gone anywhere.

The Ivory Coast yet again cause problems on the left, and a ball is sent into the box. The ball then drops for Wilfried Singo, and he absolutely whallops it toward goal.

It's one hell of a strike, but it's well blocked. That will surely leave a mark.

That's a superb stop!

Kai Havertz is posing a real threat here, and yet again he finds himself in a dangerous area.

He meets Joshua Kimmich's pearler of a cross and nods it toward the bottom corner - it seems destined for the net.

But Yahia Fofana makes the save.

Ivory Coast have a little spring in their step early doors here.

They are getting a lot of space on the left-hand side, and Germany are struggling to quell the attacks.

I can see why people enjoy watching them so much.

I like the look of Yan Diomande, I really do.

I missed the Ivory Coast's opening game against Ecuador but heard of how well the Liveprool target played that night.

I've been keen to see what he is about ever since, and well, he has started this game pretty brightly.

He beats his man at the first time of asking, but his low ball is cleared.

Ohhhhh... and early chance.

Germany are straight on the Ivory Coast here, and the ball drops to Kai Havertz invitingly inside 20 seconds.

You expect him to test the goalkeeper, but no, he blasts the ball comfortably over the bar.

Should do better.

The World Cup games just keep on coming.

The Dutch's demolition of Sweden will be hard to beat in terms of entertainment value, but hopefully these two can give it a crack.

Either way, lets hope we get a good game. I'm sure we will.

Oh, I'm in love with the Ivory Coast national anthem.

It's actually a bop, one of my favourite in the entire World Cup. And that's saying something because there are some crackers elsewhere.

Anyway, the national anthems have finished now and we are just minutes away from kick-off.

I'm itching for this game to get crackling.

Thank you for the kind introduction, Lewis!

As I am typing this post, I am beaming like these two German fans below. I'm so excited for this game.

The players are set to come out of the national anthems in a second, so it's nearly time for kick-off.

We are in for a cracker.

A pre-match substitution for you...

I'm going to be stepping aside ahead of kick-off, with Harry Bamforth coming in to take you through the live action. Be nice to him!

Should be a good one. Really keen to see how it plays out!

Enjoy, all!

The players have been out on the field warming up ahead of kick-off.

I like to assess the warm-up gear in these scenarios. Ivory Coast have gone for the bibs, while Germany... I don't love it.

But I've seen worse. Anyway...

There are four games today, with the Netherlands' 5-1 win over Sweden the first.

We know Germany will take on Ivory Coast in less than half an hour, and Ecuador will look to get on the board against Curacao in around five hours.

Then, four hours after that, it's Tunisia vs Japan.

The football doesn't stop!

The players have been out on the field taking in the scenes ahead of kick-off.

They'll be out soon to get warm - it's baking, by the way - and kick-off won't be too long after that!