Come June in the FIFA World Cup 2010 in South Africa, all eyes will be on a team that is expected to make a major impact in the finals. Ivory Coast football team is by far the most talented African side in this World Cup and in their second Soccer World Cup finals appearance; they have a point or two to prove. The Elephants were unlucky in their debut 1996 Germany World Cup. Having been placed in an extremely difficult group, they lost to Argentina and Netherlands but won against Serbia and Montenegro in the pool matches. However, South Africa is expected to hear the trumpets of captain Didier Drogba and his team. And they have enough mettle to be feared by the opponents!
How They Got There?
Ready For The South African Stampede
True to their reputation, The Elephants remained undefeated throughout the World Cup Qualifiers. They easily topped the penultimate round surpassing Mozambique, Madagascar and Botswana. In the final round, their moments of truth came when in the away match against Burkina Faso; Ivory Coast needed a winner from a 2-2 position to consolidate their lead in the group. Expectedly captain Didier Drogba obliged by netting the crucial goal. In the away match against Malawi, Ivory Coast just needed a draw to book their ticket to South Africa. But down with one goal, the team needed an equalizer and it was Drogba again who scored, coming off the bench.
The Coach
Just four months before the World Cup, following The Elephant’s defeat in the quarter finals of African Cup, the world famous Swedish football coach Sven-Goran Eriksson took over the reins from Vahid Halilhodzic. Former England national coach Eriksson led the team to two World Cup quarter finals in 2002 and 2006 and also to the Euro 2004 quarter final. Following an insipid playing career, Eriksson’s coaching career from 1978 to 2001 saw him successfully coaching many top football clubs in Sweden, Portugal and Italy. Between 1978 and 2001 Eriksson won several national leagues, domestic cups and two UEFA competitions, some of them notably with Lazio.
The Team
The Elephants of African Football
Chelsea’s star striker and 2009/10 EPL’s Golden Boot Winner Didier Drogba is the captain of the national team and is also The Elephant’s all time top scorer. He will be supported by another Chelsea’s Salomon Kalou and the highly talented former Marseille forward Bakari Kone. The midfield mainly comprises of the duo Sevilla’s Didier Zokora and Barcelona’s Yaya Toure. The Elephants defense is rock solid with Arsenal’s right back Emmanuel Eboue, Manchester City captain and center back Kolo Toure and Stuttgart’s left back Arthur Boka. Veteran goalkeeper Boubacar Barry is likely to be the first choice for Ivory Coast world cup squad.
Will The Elephants benefit from the guidance of a top class coach like Sven-Goran Eriksson with impressive track records and mammoth experience? Will the talented Ivory Coast team led by a wizard called Didier Drogba create history? Whatever be the results, undoubtedly the mention of Ivory Coast will be scary enough even for the biggies in FIFA World Cup 2010!
Others in Group G
1.Brazil
2.Korea DPR
3.Portugal
