20 June,2026 08:54 AM IST | Toronto | Agencies
Ivory Coast’s Yan Diomande during their 1-0 win over Ecuador in Philadelphia recently. PIC/AFP
Germany may have hammered Curacao 7-1 in their FIFA World Cup campaign-opener recently, but Ivory Coast won't be easy picking, insists skipper Joshua Kimmich. In fact, Kimmich pointed out to a specific threat that the Germans could face in a familiar opponent - winger Yan Diomande, who plays for RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga, and could be Liverpool's next big signing.
He scored 12 goals in 33 Bundesliga appearances in 2025-26, helping the club qualify for the UEFA Champions League. "A year ago, hardly anyone knew him [Diomande] but he has had an outstanding season, even though his team RB Leipzig had a few problems," Kimmich said ahead of Saturday's clash against the Les Elephants. "His dribbling is exceptional, a bit like Kingsley Coman of Bayern back in the day. He's got incredible pace, but there we have to prepare because they have some spectacular attacking players," added Kimmich.
Joshua Kimmich
Meanwhile, Diomande recently broke the internet with a heartbreaking tribute to his little sister Roxane, who passed away at the age of 15. "You were the one who always believed I would be the next Cristiano, when everyone else laughed. Since you died, I'm just empty. Someone put something in her drink at a party and she never woke up.
Tomorrow, we leave for the World Cup. Every time I score a goal, I'll make sure the whole world knows your name. I'll fulfil what you predicted, I swear. I'll prove you right or die trying," wrote Diamonde on The Players Tribune a few days back.
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