Côte d'Ivoire - WC Team Breakdown
The excitement is building as we get closer to the 1st African World Cup is building, its going to be great. With The Great Tournament less than a week away, the breakdowns of teams in "The Group Of Death" continue with African side, Côte d'Ivoire.
OFFICIAL NAME: Fédération Ivoirienne de Football
NICKNAME: Les Éléphants
FIFA CONFEDERATION: CAF (Africa)
FIFA CODE: CIV
HOW THEY QUALIFIED: 1st Place in Group E of African WC qualifying
WORLD CUP APPEARANCES (INCLUDING 2010): 2
BEST WC FINISH: Eliminated group stage, Germany 2006
WORLD CUP RECORD (MP: Wins - Draws - Losses): 3: 1W - 0D - 2L
HEAD COACH: Sven-Göran Eriksson
MOST CAPPED PLAYER (# of caps): Didier Zokora (80)
ALL-TIME GOAL SCORING LEADER (# of goals): Didier Drogba (44)
BRIEF FOOTBALLING HISTORY:
Côte d'Ivoire has burst onto the world footballing stage over the last 15-20 years as the nation has flooded the European leagues with talent. Les Éléphants won its only major title in 1992 when they captured the African Cup of Nations trophy in Senegal. Côte d'Ivoire is the only team to have never been shut out in any World Cup match.
PLAYER TO WATCH:
The player to watch for Côte d'Ivoire will have to step up due to an injury to Côte d'Ivoire's superstar, Didier Drogba. The one to step up is Gervinho.
(Issouf Sanogo/Agence France-Presse)
His full name is Gervais Yao Kouassi and he will have to become a goalscoring beast if Didier Drogba misses the World Cup with his broken arm. Gervinho plays for Lille in France and his versatility in attack has made him a target of English club powers, Arsenal. The #10 for Les Éléphants has the ability to be the breakout star of the Group and ease the possible loss of Drogba.
OUTLOOK:
If Côte d'Ivoire were in another group, it would be a sure thing that they would advance to the Round of 16. However in a group with Brazil and a dangerous Portugal side, Les Éléphants will have to be near perfect to advance out of the group.
FINAL 23-MAN WC ROSTER:
Goalkeepers: Boubacar Barry (Lokeren), Daniel Yeboah (ASEC Mimosas), Aristide Zogbo (Maccabi Netanya).
Defenders: Sol Bamba (Hibernian), Arthur Boka (Stuttgart), Emmanuel Eboue (Arsenal), Siaka Tiene (Valenciennes), Kolo Toure (Manchester City), Guy Demel (Hamburg), Steve Gohouri (Wigan), Benjamin Angoua (Valenciennes).
Midfielders: Didier Zokora (Seville), Romaric (Seville), Cheick Tiote (FC Twente), Yaya Toure (Barcelona), Jean-Jacques Gosso (Monaco), Abdel Kader Keita (Galatasaray).
Forwards: Aruna Dindane (Lekhwiya), Seydou Doumbia (CSKA Moscow), Didier Drogba (Chelsea, Salomon Kalou (Chelsea), Gervinho (Lille), Emmanuel Kone (CFR Cluj).
WC GROUP SCHEDULE:
June 15 vs. Portugal
June 20 vs. Brazil
June 25 vs. Korea DPR
The next team breakdown in "The Group of Death" is Portugal.
