Johannesburg — Didier Drogba will be back to lead Cote d’Ivoire’s attack against the fearsome Brazilians on Sunday but without any changes to the attacking system the Ivorians have shown at the World Cup.
The captain, whose broken forearm left his World Cup in doubt but who was used as a substitute in the opening match with Portugal, will replace Gervais Kouassi in the starting line-up.
This is despite a strong performance from "Gervinho" in the goalless draw with Portugal which marked the start of the finals for the Ivorians earlier this week.
Drogba’s return for Sunday’s match boosts Ivorian morale, already buoyed after the Portugal result and seemingly drawing many positives from the influence of new coach Sven Goran Eriksson.
The Swede has sought to make the team’s approach more attacking with a 4-4-3 formation, which he will not tinker with, even against a Brazil side whose game is all about the counter attack.
Brazil might be pre-tournament favourites and the world’s number one ranked side, but their opening game against North Korea brought more criticism than confidence.
A 2-1 triumph came only after Brazil had eventually found the net in the second half. They did have the lion’s share of the game but failed to leave any real sense of conviction.
Granted, it was the first game of the tournament but the Ivorians will have drawn heart from the nuggety way in which North Korea stymied much of the Brazilian attack.
The Ivorians will believe they are at least in with a chance for a draw, in which case they will be left with the tantalising possibility of beating North Korea in their last group game to go through to the second round.
At their debut World Cup appearance in Germany four years ago, the Ivorians were lauded for their dynamic style of play but lost their first two games to the Netherlands and Argentina and were eliminated before bouncing back with a 3-2 triumph over Serbia and Montenegro in their last encounter.
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Hi guys, My name Samuel. I am a Brazilian. I am unhappy to celebrate Brazil win over Cote D Voire. With Brazil history of winning soccer games, We have always won fairly. We do not have to depend on A crazy Referee like Stephane Lannoy to give us two hands on the ball goal before we can beat an inexperience team like the Ivoire Coast. With the 2nd goal pictures I have watched, it had turned by pride into shame when it comes to the game of soccer. The 2nd goal was hands ball goal. We do not need such a goal. This is not Brazil. Soccer is in our blood as Brazilians. The bad thing about this goal is that the picture shows the Referee congraduating, Luis Fabiano about the hands goal by pointing to his left hand while talking to him. This is a complete shame. I think it is now time that FIFA change the way the peoples sport-Soccer is play. Team must be given the right to challenge goal scored, and the game should be stop; the controversal goal playing sense should be watched like how American footbal and basketball games are play.This will reduce anger and fight on the field as it was in the Brazil and Iviore Coast game. A team challenging goal and fairness rules will continue the people loves for soccer and not anger and hatra. Thanks
Drogba is not a magician. African leaders are only interested in making themselves rich at the expense of the masses. they know how to steal votes and impose their will on the people , but they do not have the intellectual capacity to know that it is time for africa and africans to manage their own affairs. do we not have africans who are capable to coach our soccer teams? we are a disgrace and shame to the world cup on our own soil . where are the brains of jomo kenyatta , kwame nkruma , and those brave sons and daughtes of africa who can think sensibly and make smart choices for the people. we need real leaders in africa.