Country: Ivory Coast or Côte d’Ivoire
Nickname: The Elephants
Manager: Sven Goran Eriksson
Group Opponents: Brazil, Portugal, North Korea
Recent Form & News: Ivory Coast has quite the formidable line-up to upset any of the top sides in this edition of the World Cup. However, they have been tagged as Africa’s underachievers in the big games. On their day, Ivory Coast can be in devastating form. However, in the big games, they have more often than not, flattered to deceive.
Take for example the last two editions of the African Cup of Nations. Both in Ghana and Angola, Les Elephants were expected to fire. However, they looked quite out of tune during the moments it really mattered. In Angola earlier this year, they lost in the quarter finals against Algeria, after taking the lead with only a few minutes on the clock. The abysmal show led to the dismissal of former coach, Vahid Halihodzic.
The administration immediately replaced him with highly acclaimed coach, Sven Goran Eriksson.
And while Mr. Eriksson brought with him much needed experience, what with him coaching in three continents prior to the job, he has had very less time to acclimatize himself with the team.
Arsenal's Kolo Toure
The Team:
Goalkeepers:
Boubacar Barry (Lokeren),
Vincent Angban (ASEC Mimosas)
Daniel Yeboah (ASEC Mimosas),
Aristide Zogbo (Maccabi Netanya)
Boubacar Barry plays for Lokeren, Belgium, and his experience as the national team’s number one during the last two Cup of Nations might tilt the position in his favor. However, his positioning and command over his defense is quite suspect. He has often been found wanting in his calling, and has been dubbed as the weak link in an otherwise stable squad.
Defenders:
Souleman Bamba (Hibernian),
Arthur Boka (Stuttgart),
Emmanuel Eboué (Arsenal),
Abdoulaye Méïté (West Bromwich Albion),
Siaka Tiéné (Valenciennes),
Kolo Touré (Manchester City),
Guy Demel (Hamburg),
Steve Gohouri (Wigan Athletic)
Benjamin Angoua (Valenciennes)
The Elephants are said to favor a four-man defense, a strategy that Sven will no doubt be only too happy to use. The spots in defense should automatically go to (in the author’s opinion) Eboué (right back), Kolo Touré (center back), Abdoulaye Méïté (center back) and Siaka Tiéné (left back).
While Eboue might not have been the most consistent for Arsenal this season, his driving runs certainly offer the team more options. Kolo Toure is the rock that anchors the defense.
Midfielders:
Emerse Fae (Nice),
Romaric (Sevilla),
Cheick Tioté (Twente),
Yaya Touré (Barcelona),
Gilles Yapi Yapo (Young Boys),
Didier Zokora (Sevilla),
Kanga Akalé (Lens),
Emmanuel Koné (Cluj)
As in Sven’s preference, a three man midfield could see Zokora, Toure Jr. and Romaric form the Elephants’ midfield. Their dynamism and all-action play is the team’s strength, no doubt something their group opponents Portugal and Brazil will take not of.
Forwards:
Aruna Dindane (Portsmouth),
Seydou Doumbia (CSKA Moscow),
Didier Drogba (Chelsea),
Salomon Kalou (Chelsea),
Abdul Keïta (Galatasaray),
Bakari Koné (Marseille),
Gervinho (Lille),
Jean-Jacques Gosso Gosso (Monaco),
The Elephants
Lacina Traoré (Cluj)
Eriksson’s biggest headache will be the selection of his forwards, such is the artillery he has at his disposal. A three-pronged attack could see the Premier League triplet of Drogba, Kalou and Dindane start.
Author’s Comments: Ivory Coast certainly looks the team to beat, but they have been drawn in the so-called Group of Death, Group G. The latest official odds are slightly tilted in favor of Portugal ahead of Ivory Coast, whereas North Korea is an unknown quantity, a fact that has not been missed by the coach. Drogba has already gone on record saying he’ll be looking for the Golden Boot. Their biggest asset is their midfield and attack, but the only problem might prove to be Eriksson’s relative inexperience and lack of assessment of the strengths of the squad. But be prepared for major upsets
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