Ivory Coast player arrested for spot-fixing, Kimmich sounds warning

Key Ivory Coast player arrested before World Cup for alleged spot-fixing

One of your players was arrested in May on suspicion of spot-fixing, and the story has only now surfaced during the tournament (1). The arrest happened before the World Cup began, meaning he traveled to the tournament under a cloud that the public knew nothing about. No name has been released yet. The report comes via CBS Sports, who broke the story on Wednesday (1).

The timing is brutal. Your team opened Group E with that 1–0 win over Ecuador, Amad Diallo scoring in the 90th minute. Now this lands two days before facing Germany.

Kimmich: "It's getting more difficult to win games"

Germany captain Joshua Kimmich has been watching this tournament closely, and he is not taking anything for granted ahead of Saturday's match against your team (2). "Generally speaking, it's getting more difficult to win games," Kimmich said on 16 June (2). He pointed to Spain's draw with Cabo Verde as proof that the gap is closing everywhere.

Germany know your team just snapped Ecuador's 19-game unbeaten run. Diallo is in form, Yan Diomande turned heads on his debut. Kimmich's comments read like a captain making sure his teammates do not underestimate Ivory Coast.