Manager: Sabri Lamouchi
Previous Best: Group Stage (2006, 2010)
Likely Line-up (4-3-3)
| Pos | Name | Age | Caps | Club |
| GK | Barry | 34 | 80 | Lokeren (BEL) |
| RB | Aurier | 21 | 9 | Toulouse (FRA) |
| CB | Touré | 33 | 107 (6) | Liverpool (ENG) |
| CB | Bamba | 29 | 44 (2) | Trabzonspor (TUR) |
| LB | Boka | 31 | 80 (1) | Stuttgart (DEU) |
| DM | Zokora | 33 | 120 (1) | Unattached |
| CM | Tioté | 27 | 45 (1) | Newcastle United (ENG) |
| CM | Touré | 31 | 83 (16) | Manchester City (ENG) |
| RAM | Gervinho | 27 | 54 (14) | Roma (ITA) |
| LAM | Kalou | 28 | 65 (23) | Lille (FRA) |
| ST | Drogba* | 38 | 101 (65) | Galatasary (TUR) |
* Has appeared at a previous World Cup
Average Age: 29.8
Total Caps: 788
Best Odds: 150/1 (BoyleSports, Ladbrokes)
Player to Watch: Didier Drogba
This will be one of the shorter previews I have written. I don't spend much time on players who will be well known to fans of British football, the Côte D'Ivoire players will be better known to those fans than any other team, apart of course from England.
In goal 34 year old Boubacar Barry is embarking on his 3rd World Cup. Despite playing for Lokeren in Belgium, he is in many ways the stereotypical African goalkeeper. He makes some great saves, but his command of the penalty area and some of the decisions he makes look suspect through the eyes of a northern European. In truth he probably won't have these weaknesses exposed at the World Cup, given the level of protection goalkeepers are afforded by referees. One interesting note about Barry, though this is one for the complete anorak, is that he tends to kick a dead ball from the ground with his right foot, but played the ball from his hands by kicking it with his left foot.
Earlier in the season, amidst the racism row sparked by Sol Campbell's remarks in his book, the point was made by some that very often black players are praised for physical attributes, using terms like 'athletic' or 'hard-working', and that it is much rarer to hear a black player praised for their 'creativity' or their ability, for example, to 'unlock a defence' It is a point I would broadly agree with, but in the case of Serge Aurier it is a difficult trap to avoid falling in to. Aurier is technically sound without being spectacular, he defends well without being brilliant, but his outstanding attributes are strength, pace, stamina and hard work. These attributes should not be undervalued, particularly in the challenging climate this World Cup will be played in.
The central defenders will be Kolo Toure of Liverpool and Sol Bamba of Trabzonspor, but formerly of Hibernian and Leicester City.
The left back will be "The African Roberto Carlos", Arthur Boka. Another of those playing in his 3rd World Cup, Boka plays for VfB Stuttgart, and will, as his nickname suggests, be keen to get forward and join in with attacks in addition to his defensive duties.
The midfield will be led by Yaya Toure, probably supported by Didier Zokora, formerly of Spurs, and Cheick Tioté of Newcastle.
The wide positions will be filled by former Arsenal player Gervinho on the right, and former Chelsea player Salomon Kalou on the left.
The lone forward will, of course, be the one and only Didier Drogba (pictured). I have also named Drogba as my player to watch for Côte D'Ivoire, which goes against my usual pattern of picking someone you probably won't be familiar with, but I would suggest paying particular attention to one particular aspect of his game, his shooting. Drogba is still a sensational striker, even at 38. What I have been very impressed with over the years is the percentage of his shots that he gets on target. Regardless of how tightly he is being marked, if he manages to get a shot off, it is overwhelmingly likely that, even if it only trickles towards the goal, the goalkeeper will have to stop it. It is very very rare to see him blaze a shot over or wide.
Ivory Coast have not managed to get out of their group in their two previous World Cup appearances, but have been drawn in the 'Group of Death' on both occasions (with Argentina, Netherlands & Serbia-Montenegro in 2006, and with Brazil, Portugal & North Korea in 2010). This time the draw has been much more favourable, and they stand a good chance of qualifying from an open looking group featuring Columbia, Japan and Greece.
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