2010 World Cup: Eriksson believes Drogba has the right to play in the World Cup opener
Ivory Coast coach Sven Goran Eriksson has at last shed clearer light on the team’s star forward Didier Drogba. Recent times have sparked up controversies about the ace Chelsea striker to play in the World Cup opener against Portugal this Tuesday.
In essence, the Swedish coach told that in the end, the decision of playing rests in the national’s team’s medical personnel and Drogba himself. The key in the attack of the Blues, Drogba broke his elbow about a week before, fracturing his inner bone ‘ulna’ in the process in a warm-up match against the Japanese.
The Blue Samurais had suggested to the Ivorians that both teams should organize a match just to let the substitutes and the second line play and get some practice for FIFA World Cup this summer in South Africa.
In the beginning, it was expected that the star was going to be benched and saved for future games but that was not the case as desire for perfection over took the course. Eriksson after the match admitted about Drogba’s injury that if he can play a game tomorrow or the day after that, he certainly wouldn’t be able to play but under current circumstances the question is would it be wise for him to be selected. Though Eriksson did later say that he will play against Portugal, but things are still under the veil about his condition if facts are taken into account.
While talking to the media, the Swede said, “I can't confirm that Didier Drogba will face Portugal, even though the recovery is going well and I have certainly thought about putting in place a plan B (in the absence of Drogba). The decision to play (against Portugal) will depend on Didier himself and the specialists that are following him”.
Ivory Coast is drawn in without a doubt the most difficult Group in this World Cup. The group is called ‘the Group of Death’ with Brazil, Portugal and North Korea all crammed in their together to fight for the glory. All teams have proved themselves in recent times and deserve to get through from the Group stages to 16 teams round.
Nevertheless Eriksson has enough hope to give off some as charity as he clearly claimed that even without his key striker they can make it to the 2nd round. He optimistically expressed, “We will be well prepared and we are going to do everything to play well against the other teams”.
Whatever the case maybe, Drogba stated that he wasn’t out of the race for the World Cup as yet and if ‘the Elephants’ want to win, Drogba is an essential part of the team.
Being in top form this season, he became the highest goal scorer in the English Premier League for Chelsea along the way, helping them win the league title. With so many star players being injured before the Cup this year, there will be certainly a wary eye on the level of fouls committed in this tournament.
The governing body of FIFA has relayed out instructions to referees to bring a halt to foul play and unnecessary hard advances in the game. This will eventually mean that in the beginning, there will be a larger number of red and yellow cards; and already a similar story is being narrated on the field.
The Group of Death in this case will have no exceptions - especially in the matches where Drogba plays – an interesting reaction from referees is predicted. This will be however new to many referees who mostly are accustomed to the hard plays of various clubs and leagues.
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