Can Didier Drogba's Ivory Coast win the Football World Cup
The Ivory Coast is one of 6 African teams participating in this historic World Cup, the first on the African continent. Every African team will look to enter the history books in this unique World Cup. A team made of excellent players, the West African nation is led by Sven-Goran Eriksson and will need to solidify the group as a team.
The dream of winning the world cup is far fetched for Ivory Coast. They are a very attractive team with their offensive armada led by high-class strikers, with the likes of Didier Drogba, Gervinho, Salomon Kalou, Bakary Kone and Aruna Dindane. The Elephants are sorely missing a solid defensive core that is worthy of a great soccer nation...a great soccer nation to be? This problem is not new with the Tiene, Barry and others that together are not strong enough to be able to be above the crowd in the World Cup.
Ex-Arsenal star and currently with Manchester City, Kolo Toure feels alone and needs help at central defense. Eboue plays as a right back but is more efficient as a right midfielder. Unfortunately for the Elephants, the World Cup draw was not kind and they have been slotted in the group of Death with Brazil, Portugal and North Korea. Didier Drogba and friends will not second chances in this difficult group and will need to come in the tournament as a very tight group, not necessarily their forte after a dissapointing exit from the African Cup of Nations.
Will Sven-Goran Eriksson, who came on March 28th to replaceVahid Halilhodzic, be able to change the Elephants' luck in such a short time? He was not able to do it in 5 years for England and this african mission seems impossible.
Participating to their second World Cup, the Ivory Coast has no World soccer reference. In 2006, 5 months after losing the ACN final, the Elephants crossed paths with Argentina (2-1 loss), the Netherlands (2-1 loss) and Serbia (3-2 win) in the 2006 World Cup group stage. The last international success for the Ivory Coast goes back to 1992 when they won the African Cup of NAtions against Ghana.
Didier Drogba is the symbol of the Ivory Coast. The Chelsea striker is coming out of the greatest season of his career. He won the FA Cup, the EPL title and the EPL best goal scorer with 29 goals. The ex-Marseille striker is firing on all cylinders and Sven will hope this magic will rub off on his team mates. He will be shouldered by Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Eboue as both have extensive Champions League experience. This experience will help them to stay focused and play at the highest level against high-class players. But ego problems have aroused after the Elephants quarter final exit in the African Cup of Nations and Drogba even admitted to it. Internal problems will need to be resolved in time so that the team can gel as a solid group.
This is where Sven-Goran Eriksson comes into play '' We still do not know why it is not going well. I hope with the new coach, we will find the answer'' said young Lille striker Gervinho.'' We have so much talent. We could not find a solution ourselves. If we get back the solidarity of past years, if we decide to fight for our teammate , we might go all the way''. He continued to say'' We know that are facing great teams. They must say the same thing and we will try to create an upset. They do not have a margin of error and have more pressure than us. We have players capable of causing damage to the opposing team''.
Schedule
June 15th : Ivory Coast - Portugal (Port Elizabeth)
June 20th : Brazil - Ivory Coast (Johannesburg - Soccer City)
June 25th : Nort Korea- Ivory Coast (Nelspruit)
Potential opponents in the round of 16: Spain, Switzerland, Chile or Honduras.
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