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Cote-d’Ivoire: An opponent profile

June 9th, 2006 | By: Noman Ansari | 21 Comments »

As I watch Costa Rica hold their own against the Germans, my mind drifts to our testing opener against the Ivory Coast tomorrow. Cote-d’Ivoire is not an opponent to be taken lightly, especially with our side slightly unsettled and lacking a bit of class in defense.

Cote-d’Ivoire finished top of the toughest qualifying group in Africa which is impressive. They managed to qualify while star studded African giants such as Nigeria and Cameroon did not. If that isn’t enough then consider the talent they boast.

The Cloud:

Love him or hate him, Dider Drogba has started ahead of Hernan Crespo for Chelsea and has made the most of his opportunity. He has a decent work ethic and is a dangerous striker even at wide angles. He also scored heavily in the side’s qualifying games.

Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Eboue play the backline for Arsenal; a side that had a tremendous defensive record in this year’s European Champion’s League. Kolo Toure is definitely the better of the two and comes from a talented family with his brother Yaya playing midfield.

The Silver Lining:

Drogba may be dangerous but he also recently admitted to diving and ball handling. As gutsy as that was, referees discuss these sort of things and will keep a very close eye on him.

Toure and Eboue are talented defenders but against Villareal — a side with obvious South American style — Arsenal’s defense looked extremely fragile.

Present Form:

Cote-d’Ivoire recently thwarted Slovenia but only managed a low scoring draw against Chile. Tomorrow’s game is going to be crucial. I predict a score line of 3-1 in favor of Argentina tomorrow, as in my opinion they will struggle against a South American giant.

The question is what is your score prediction tomorrow and how do we stop the threats in Cote-d’Ivoire?

Tags: Argentina, Crespo, Drogba, Group C, Ivory Coast, Riquelme

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Comments

By Keyser | June 9th, 2006 at 8:15 pm

we must have the ball and move it quickly, african teams usually have chaotic defenses.
I hope it will not be a shitty 1-0 with a ‘header’ (using the shoulder) as 4 years ago against Nigeria…
AndPato, please don’t allo rebound with Drogba being less than 4 meters away…

By maxilopez | June 9th, 2006 at 8:25 pm

EDDIE, what’s the matter with Lux’s father?

IC is a great team. I know their players. Lots of you underestimate them. ARG 3-2 IC. It will a very difficult game for our hearts!

Posted from France

By skywalker | June 9th, 2006 at 8:25 pm

I think if the first half hour or so go by without the Arg. conceding a goal, I think we’ll be fine…

I still think a huge mental scar burdens this team from the last WC so not allowing an early goal; and/or scoring one ourselves will be all the impetus we need to move on to bigger and better things.

All said and done, I also believe Arg will win 3-1 with the 3rd goal being a combo of some messi/tevez/aimar work in the 2nd half.

Posted from Canada

By skywalker | June 9th, 2006 at 8:27 pm

one more thing.. what is all this rubbish about Arg struggling against african teams. in our history, we have lost once to an African side.

It just so happened that the one loss was one of the biggest upsets in soccer history so people tend to associate Arg with having difficulties with African teams…

Posted from Canada

By Pugnate | June 9th, 2006 at 8:28 pm

Yes exactly skywalker. We lost to Cameroon in a game that was highly reported and then it just became a silly rumor.

Posted from Pakistan

By saswata | June 9th, 2006 at 8:53 pm

difficult to predict the score..but its a very important game…i expect a 2-0 win for Arg…..lets see what next…i am really tensed…go ahead Argentina…

Posted from India

By Ade Lamidi | June 9th, 2006 at 9:31 pm

I am predicting Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) will pull a shock over the Argentianians. 2-1 to Ivory Coast.

Posted from United Kingdom

By pablo | June 9th, 2006 at 10:11 pm

I fully agree on your comments.
1-0 for argentina will be ok.

Posted from Argentina

By mightie | June 9th, 2006 at 10:29 pm

i am not underestimating CIV but i m sure the game will be dominated by argentina. i m nervous too & i believe that if riquelme gets the rhythm there will be no stopping an excellent one sided performance arg3-0civ but if he is lost on the field then we can still win by 2-1. i m sure our defenders dont fear drogba.

Posted from United Arab Emirates

By chayan | June 9th, 2006 at 10:47 pm

Argentina also lost to Nigeria in the 1996 Atlanta Olympic final after leading twice.

And they have a host of defeats in other age groups against african teams.

It is a fact that the albicelecte struggle against teams with bigger, stronger plays who play physical…

I am very worried about the game tomorrow…

Posted from United States

By Fed | June 10th, 2006 at 12:24 am

It will be 2-1 at halftime, then Messi-Tevez-Aimar come on in the second half and combine to score two more. 4-1 final. We have a much better team than 2002, i dont know why everyone is so pessimistic and worried.

Posted from United States

By ivan | June 10th, 2006 at 12:52 am

i also believe argentina shold and hopefully come out victorious in this game against ivory coast and in the group but!!! if argentina chokes again i will put the blaim on that stupid coach pekermen. he made some really bad decisions on wich players to leave out of the roster. lets go argentina

Posted from United States

By skywalker | June 10th, 2006 at 2:12 am

chayan …

I was talking about at the National Level. I agree we tend to struggle against more physical teams, but our record at the senior level is still pretty good vs the Africans.

By DaveC | June 10th, 2006 at 3:02 am

In the last couple of World Cups when we played Nigeria, we only won by 1 - 0 and 2 - 1, and lost to Cameroon by 0 - 1. This means we squeaked by a win against Nigeria by the minimalist of margins, and lost a close one to Cameroon. If this talks to how Argentina performs against African Nations in the World Cup, I would have to say we should be precaucios and not assume that because this is Ivory Coast first apperance in the WC that will take them lightly. It only takes a moment of greatness from an opposing teams player to send your team packing. As the saying goes, those who do not learn from the past are bound to repeat it.

Posted from United States

By himu | June 10th, 2006 at 6:59 am

Argentina will win 1-0, if we look at our last two world cup, that was the result.

this team is full of talent, that even Brazil cannot match. good luck for Argentina

Himu from Bangladesh

Posted from Bangladesh

By Martijn | June 10th, 2006 at 9:57 am

Oke, after all this reading for winning or losing against african teams, what about a draw. In mY opinion i could see this coming out in a 2-2 draw, or in a 3-2 win for either side. Im neutral on this so, thats my opinion

Posted from Oman

By prastuh | June 10th, 2006 at 11:17 am

Argentina have twice played their opening game on 10 June, and on both occasions they went on to lift the trophy (1978 and 1986).

Posted from India

By omar | June 11th, 2006 at 5:10 pm

again, the team didn’t show a high quality level to be the world champion,
good first half, that’s true the most important thing is to get the 3 points, but they played a very bad second half, the team should’t play like this, Ivory cost team was very colsed to score more 2 or 3 goals in the second half , ohh i don’t like to watch like this second half again. Mr Pekerman please, u r a coach with a big experince , but u r doing a fucking mistakes
the team physically not that much strong as previous argentian’s squands, stimna is also not as required, bad subsitutes, Palacio is out of the game, bad passes bad control even he could’t control himself on the ground ! he should been kept at home !
pato 6/10
ayala 8/10
hienz 7/10
burdiso 5/10
sorin 5/10
maschirano 7/10
cambiaso 4/10
requilme 8/10
maxi 6/10
crispo 8/10
saviola 9/10
——
gonzalez 3/10
palacio 3/10

Posted from France

By omar | June 11th, 2006 at 5:11 pm

again Bad subsitutions,
Palacio is out of the compition,
why pekerman didn’t play with Tevez , Messi or maybe Cruz instead of this useless palacio, he distroied every thing when he entred , i’m sure the bad performance in the second half becouse of him , he should not be selected any more,
the squad should have more physical advanteges , Cambiasso is so so dilicate, no ball interpution , no good passe , no intelegent passes ; no good attack , no good defence ,,
anyway let’s talk after the second match

palacio should be out, why he is playing an important match and didn’t play a fiendly match ?
cambiassio is very weak also , no physical advanteges, no good passes , no intelegnece , no attack , no diffence, very dilicate showing himself to the people watching the match, i see he is useless,
pato didn’t make mistakes, has good long kicks but looking no confidence ,
burdiso , is ok, maybe he will play better,
saviola and crespo good matching , but we need to see Messi and Tevez,
Aimar should also take his chance, but perkerman relaying 100% on requilme, i think no way to see Aimar and requilme both playing together, this is perkerman’s stratigy i think

Posted from France

By omar | June 11th, 2006 at 5:14 pm

what does Nestor Lorenzo doing with perkerman staff ?

Posted from France

By The Don | June 16th, 2006 at 12:54 am

Go Cote D’Ivoir, I feel a 2-0 romp coming on…Choke Argentina, CHOKE!!!

Posted from New Zealand