There is going to be so much written about the World Cup that I have decided to concentrate on one team in each group. This may not be my idea of the group winner, but if not, will be one that I consider to be overpriced, under rated and capable of causing an upset.
Going to start in Group C with the Ivory Coast, they qualified from a tough section containing african giants Cameroon and Egypt. In a free scoring group, they kept six clean sheets and managed to win in Cairo, a feat made all the more impressive by Egypt's 17 goals in the other 4 home ties. They came close to repeating the feat in the Cup of Nations final earlier this year, losing in a penalty shoot out.
I was really impressed with them in the Cup of Nations, their team spirit was amazing and Didier Drogba showed true leadership qualities, a whole new side to his game. Les Elephants beat Cameroon and Nigeria on the way to the final, their only reverse coming in the group stage, after qualification was already earned. They are a very proud team, proud of being african, proud of being ivorian and will fight to the end.
All but one of the squad are based in Europe, Drogba, Kolo Toure and Eboue in the Premiership and more than half play in France. Guy Demel, the only german based player, plies his trade in Hamburg where the Ivory Coast start their campaign against Argentina.
They are a squad of immense talent and presence and are strong in every position. It is likely that eight of the first choice eleven will compete in the Champions League next year. Zokora ( St.Etienne) and Yaya Toure (Olympiakos), Kolo's brother, are being stalked by every big club in Europe, they may also find their way to the Premiership before too long.
In World Cup qualification, strike partners Drogba and Dindane scored 15 goals between them. Before moving to Lens, Dindane scored 50 goals in 132 appearances in Belgium, where he was voted player of the year in 2003. The fact that he was forced to withdraw from the Cup of Nations makes their achievement, even more admirable.
Although they have plenty of experience at the top level, this is a very young team, average age of the outfield players is under 24 and they are growing together, as a team. Many of them have played together for a decade, having graduated from the Guillou academy in Abidjan.
Coach, frenchman Henri Michel, is vastly experienced and this will be his 4th World Cup, having previously led France, Cameroon and Morocco in the finals.
It is not just in Africa that they have impressed, following recent matches against Switzerland and Spain, both opposition coaches were inspired to quote .....
Swiss coach Kobi Kuhn had words of praise for his opponents."Ivory Coast are definitely the best team in Africa," "They showed they are very strong," added the coach who is revered in Switzerland after steering the country to its first World Cup for twelve years.
Spanish chief Luis Aragones offered..."People will have enjoyed a game against a very good side", "It was difficult because physically they are very strong".
I accept that they are in an extremely difficult group but feel that their physical style will match up well with Argentina, in particular. Should they get off to a good start, they could have a very strong tournament indeed. At around 3.50 (betfair) to qualify from the "group of death", Ivory Coast are a value selection.
Do not want to refer to them as the tournament dark horse, as I feel they are much better than that, but at 100-1 what else can we call them, so , the tournament dark horse or elephant it is then.
SquadGoalkeepers: Jean-Jacques Tizie (Esperance Tunis, Tunisia), Boubacar Barry Copa (KSK Beveren, Belgium), Gerard Gnanhouan (Montpellier, France)Defenders: Cyrille Domoraud (Creteil, France), Blaise Kouassi (ES Troyes, France), Abdoulaye Meite (Marseille, France), Etienne Arthur Boka (Strasbourg, France), Kolo Toure (Arsenal, England), Emmanuel Eboue (Arsenal, England), Marc Zoro (FC Messina, Italy)Midfielders: Didier Zokora (St Etienne, France), Emerse Fae (Nantes, France), Kanga Gauthier Akale (Auxerre, France), Romaric Ndri Koffi (Le Mans, France), Gnegneri Yaya Toure (Olympiakos,Greece), Gilles Yapi Yapo (Young Boys, Switzerland), Guy Roland Demel (Hamburg, Germany)Strikers: Bakari Kone (Nice, France), Didier Drogba (Chelsea, England), Arouna Kone (PSV Eindhoven, Holland), Bonaventure Kalou (Paris Saint-Germain, France), Abdoul Kader Keita (Lille, France), Aruna Dindane (Lens, France)
5 points to qualify from group c @ 3.50 betfair
2 points outright @ 100.0 betfair............ to take a hedging position later, he said hopefully.
Good Luck.
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