Outright Odds: eighty/1
Team C Winners: nine/1
The Ivory Coastline topped their qualifying team although the margins concerning achievements and failure were so rigorous it came all the way down to just one penalty kick with just four minutes of qualification remaining.
Within the penultimate qualifying match, the Ivorians essential a victory versus Cameroon to make sure qualification, Nonetheless they misplaced 3-two in Abidjan. Their subsequent three-one away gain at Sudan can be meaningless if Entire world Cup mainstays Cameroon defeat Egypt. The match was all square at one-1 right until Cameroon had been awarded a penalty 4 minutes into harm time. An effective location kick would ship them via but Pierre Wome hit the skin of your put up and the Ivory Coastline were heading to Germany.
The Ivory Coastline are arguably the strongest African side participating in the finals, with Cameroon, Nigeria, Morocco and Senegal all failing to qualify. Nonetheless, They're also pitted inside the hardest group and may need to be at their very best towards common favourites like Argentina and Holland.
Chelsea striker Didier Drogba prospects the entrance line and contributed 9 goals as his state skilled for the first time in eight makes an attempt. Arsenal defender Kolo Toure is the most recognisable defender although the staff oozes excellent from players largely plying their trade in France.
Partnering Drogba in assault is Lens forward Aruna Dindane when playmaker Bonaventure Kalou, from Paris St Germain and St. Ettienes Didier Zakora are all able to building an impression. In defence Toure is joined by Abdoulaye Meite from Marseille, Strasbourgs Etienne Boka and veteran Cyrille Domoraud, now taking part in for Creteil.
Becoming put in this kind of a tough qualifying group, the Ivorians will benefit greatly from new88 getting a coach of Henri Michels stature. The vastly expert mentor is answerable for his sixth countrywide group following stints at France, Cameroon, Morocco, Tunisia along with the United Arab Emirates. With twenty years experience to get in touch with on, he will guarantee Drogba and co. are absolutely geared up for the undertaking in advance.
Though the crew are solid in most regions, Also they are probe to a lack of concentration. This was highlighted inside their qualifier versus Cameroon which could have seen them skip out on a place during the finals. There are also doubts lifted on their own capability to Participate in absent from your home right after qualifying defeats to Egypt and Cameroon plus a goalless draw with Libya.
Encouraged Bet:
Senegal burst onto the Worldwide scene four many years in the past after they defeat an underneath-par France one-0 inside the opening sport And so the Ivory Coastline could possibly do the exact same. If they could do the unthinkable and conquer possibly Argentina or Holland, a point inside their final match in opposition to Serbia & Montenegro could see them by to the final sixteen.
Ivory Coast vs Serbia & Montenegro attract @ 5/two