Curaçao exit their debut World Cup with 0 wins, 1 draw, and 2 losses. Juninho Bacuna took a yellow card in the 75th minute and Gervane Kastaneer followed in the 83rd, both chasing a game that was long decided. For a small Caribbean island making its first appearance at a World Cup, just qualifying was the story — finishing bottom of Group E is simply the honest reflection of where they stand against this level of opposition.
Ivory Coast settled any nerves inside 7 minutes. Diomandé drove into the left channel, cut the ball back, and Pépé didn't need a second look — clean finish, 1-0, and the tone was set. The Elephants played with the composure of a side that knew a win was enough and had no reason to overextend. Kessie ran the midfield throughout, Diomandé and Diallo stretched the defensive shape on both flanks, and the 63% possession share came without any desperation to it.
Pépé completed his brace in the 64th minute, meeting a through ball from Ibrahima Sangaré and finishing into the top corner. After that Ivory Coast managed the game home, kept the clean sheet, and wrapped up Group E in second place with 6 points. It's the first time in 4 World Cup appearances they've ever made the knockout rounds. Pépé did pick up a yellow card at 35 minutes, but it was a non-event — he was the best player on the pitch by some distance.
All 3 pre-match picks landed. The moneyline on Ivory Coast at 83% closing probability was always the straightforward call and they handled it without drama. The spread was the intriguing one — we backed Curaçao +2.5, and Ivory Coast winning by exactly 2 goals means it covered by the thinnest margin; our bull case about no incentive to chase a blowout once the lead was secured proved right. The under 3.5 was the cleanest result of the night — just 2 total goals, Curaçao's attack contributed zero, and Ivory Coast coasted after Pépé's second. The market expected the favorite to control and close it out. That's precisely what happened.
Ivory Coast0-2
Ecuador0-0
Germany1-7
Norway1-2Curaçao2-0Germany1-2Ecuador1-0