World Cup 2014 Team Spotlight – Ivory Coast
With the likes of Yaya Toure and Didier Drogba among their ranks, the Ivory Coast are perhaps the best of the African teams playing in this year’s World Cup final.
Group C: Greece, Ivory Coast, Japan and Colombia
FIFA Ranking: 21
Jun 14 v Japan, Jun 19 v Colombia, Jun 24 v Greece
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However, they have consistently disappointed over the past decade, including failing to get past the group stage in the last two World Cups, and losing in the final of the African Nations Cup twice.
Nevertheless, this squad should not be overlooked by handiappers, especially after an extraordinary qualifying campaign that produced not a single loss, wining four and drawing twice against Morocco, Tanzania and Gambia.
After that, the side went on to secure its spot on the world’s biggest stage with a 4-2 aggregate qualifying playoff over Senegal, following a 3-1 victory on home soil.
Now, with time running out for some of their aging stars, the Ivory Coast will aim to make an impact at this year’s World Cup, behind veterans like Yaya Toure. The superb Manchester City midfielder could very well be just the weapon that will carry the Ivory Coast to the round of 16 or further for the first time ever in their history.
And he will get his first chance in the Ivory Coast’s opening game against Japan, which should end in a win and set the tone for the side’s second match against group favorite Colombia.
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And while the Ivory Coast is projected to lose against the Colombians by odd makers, former France international Sabri Lamouchi will expect much more.
In his first appearance as manager of the Ivory Coast since taking over in 2012, Lamouchi has done a good job so far, with the team managing to advance through the entire qualification campaign without defeat.
It will be his hope that that form will continue deep into the World Cup final, where Ivory Coast is a story of a disappointment.
In their first appearance in 2006, they ended up finishing third in a group that included Argentina, the Netherlands and Serbia and then followed that up with a loss to Brazil in the 2010 group matches.
Matt’s Free Prediction – Round of 16 –
And while this year the Ivory Coast will hope that things will be better for them in a weaker group than those faced in the past, this group still looks tight, with every game counting big time.
Most have pegged the inexperience of their manager to be a problem, but I don’t think so. I expect them to beat the Japanese and come up with a huge tie against the Colombians to take second in the group stage, finally showing the world what they are capable of.
Nevertheless, I don’t expect them to move beyond that stage, as they will have to face some pretty stiff World Cup competition advancing out of Group G.
