Germany’s big opening-round win needs to be viewed dialectically. Their opponent was the least populous country ever to take part in World Cup history, and their overall strength is several levels below Germany’s. Havertz and Musiala did indeed show extremely high attacking efficiency in the match, but against a disciplined African side like Côte d’Ivoire, one that is strong in physical duels, Germany’s attacking space will be significantly compressed. Côte d’Ivoire beat Ecuador 1-0 in the opening round and allowed their opponent just three shots all game, with their back line’s concentration and covering ability tested in real match conditions. In the Asian handicap market, the opening line had the home side laying one goal, and by kickoff it had remained stable at a one-goal line. The home-team price rose from the 0.80-0.91 mid-to-low range to 0.82-0.85, while some bookmakers even offered a structure of a one-goal handicap with high water above 1.00. Given Germany’s 7-1 opening-round win, a one-goal line is already relatively shallow. With Germany’s strength and form against an opponent like Côte d’Ivoire, the fair line should normally be one-and-a-half goals or even deeper. A shallow line with rising water suggests the bookmakers are not overly confident in Germany winning by a big margin. Côte d’Ivoire’s tactical logic is very clear. Head coach Gasset is highly likely to set up in a compact 5-4-1 block, while Kessié and Fofana’s interception ability in midfield will directly disrupt Germany’s build-up play. Côte d’Ivoire have conceded just seven goals in their last 10 matches, and their defensive discipline has been repeatedly proven in African qualifiers and friendlies. Although the absences of Wahbi and Ndicka affect both attack and defense, Côte d’Ivoire’s system does not rely on individual players — their defensive approach is based on the collective: compressing space, limiting opponents’ touches in the box, and staying compact. Germany’s attack is sharp, but it is not flawless against a low block. In the opening round against Curacao, Germany scored seven goals, but three of them came from set pieces and opponent errors, so their efficiency in breaking down a packed defense in open play was not as terrifying as the raw numbers suggest. Côte d’Ivoire’s defensive discipline and physical strength are far beyond Curaçao’s, and Germany’s attack will face a real test. Overall, Germany are the most likely team to win, but the margin may only be one or two goals. Côte d’Ivoire’s defensive structure and physicality are enough to hold the line in a deep handicap. Asian handicap recommendation: Côte d’Ivoire +1.