FT · World: World Cup · Saturday, 20 June 2026

Germany 21 Ivory CoastMatch recap & Bawler model verdict · Saturday, 20 June 2026

Germany
21
Germany win
Ivory Coast
> 🧠 Model verdict
✓ Model called it

Pre-match, Bawler had Germany at 49%, draw at 30%, Ivory Coast at 21%. The match ended 2-1 — confirming the model's lean toward Germany.

> Pre-match probability vs result
Germany win
49%
Actual ✓
Draw
30%
Coast win
21%
> Expected vs actual goals
Model expected (xG)
1.711.07
Total 2.78
Actual
21
Total 3 (+0.2 vs xG)

Total goals landed close to the model's expectation — within 0.2 of forecast. Suggests this match played to the underlying xG balance.

> 🧾 What the model called · and how it landed
High confidence
Over 1.5 Goals
Pre-match: 75%
✓ Won
Medium confidence
1X
Pre-match: 64%
✓ Won
Outside shot
Over 3.5 Goals
Pre-match: 25%
✗ Lost
> What we said pre-match
"Over 1.5 Goals dominates at 75% because Germany's 1.71 xG dwarfs Ivory Coast's 1.07, and Wirtz's creative output (22% of team xG) ensures attacking pressure the visitors' defence cannot match."

> More from Bawler