World Cup Preview - Group C - Ivory Coast

Ivory Coast

Coach: Veteran French coach Henri Michel.

Nickname: “The Elephants”

Game Schedule:
June 10 – Ivory Coast vs. Argentina (3 p.m. EST)
June 16 – Ivory Coast vs. Holland (12 p.m.)
June 21 – Ivory Coast vs. Serbia (3 p.m.)

Prospects: Like Senegal, the surprise factor in Japanorea 2002, The Ivory Coast has a distinctly French flavor to it, many of its stars having been raised in the Abidjan academy run by French coach Jean-Marc Guillou and plying their trade in Ligue 1. Frenchman Henri Michel brings his first-time qualifiers into Germany with a tight core of players with nothing to lose, always a danger for the bigger sides in the group. Their first match against Argentina is a fascinating one; if they can get anything out of the match, they’ll throw a spanner into the whole group and set up massive third game for Argentina vs. Holland. The spine of the team is decent with Emmanuel Eboue and Kolo Toure in the back, Feyenoord schemer Bonaventure Kalou in midfield and the dynamic pairing of Didier Drogba and Aruna Dindane. I’ll be pulling for them, if only for their stylish orange kit.

Key Player: Chelsea’s Didier Drogba; even when he isn’t on a scoring streak, he’s a talismanic player for the Elephants. Nine goals in qualifiers.

Youngster to watch: We all know about Arsenal’s converted center back Kolo Toure, but have a look at his young classy fullback partner at Arsenal Emmanuel Eboue.

Who Will Get the Goals: Lens striker Aruna Dindane, whose goals got Ivory Coast through qualifiers and to the final of the African Nation’s Cup this season.

Who Will Get the Cards: Goalkeeper Jean Jacques Tizie, who has an alarming habit of going walkabout outside his area.

Funniest Name: Gilles Yapi Yapo, who plays at the excellently named Young Boys.

Prediction: They have every chance of knocking off one of the big boys in the group, but I’m going to be cautious a predict according to form, with Ivory Coast just being edged out in a very tight group.

~Bob