Ivory Coast Teams

For the second straight Cup, the Ivory Coast finds itself pitted against some of the world's powerhouses. And while it also has to adjust to the late addition of a new coach, group foes Brazil and Portugal can't overlook the Didier Drogba-led Ivory Coast.

World-Ivorians better equipped to weather tough group
ABIDJAN, May 21 (Reuters) - Even with Sven-Goran Eriksson's experienced hand at the tiller, Ivory Coast must be wondering if the footballing gods are intent on another early exit from the biggest stage of all at the World Cup.

Four years ago in Germany they were dealt the might of Argentina and Netherlands in the group stages, and have faired little better in South Africa where they will pit their considerable wits against five-time champions Brazil and Portugal.

Although Swede Eriksson has been parachuted in at the 11th hour to coach the Ivorians, he has the raw materials -- in Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou, Didier Zokora, Yaya and Kolo Toure -- to give the South American and European powerhouses real pause for thought.

At the 2006 World Cup they lost their opening two games and were eliminated, although they then delighted the tournament in Germany with a 3-2 win over Serbia & Montenegro in their last game.

This time around they open their campaign against Portugal in Port Elizabeth on June 15 and play Brazil five days later in Johannesburg, and their impressive attacking line could prove good enough to ensure their final Group G game against North Korea in Nelspruit is no consolation game.

The difficult task handed to the Ivorians by the draw in Cape Town in December was exacerbated two months later by the decision to fire coach Vahid Halilhodzic.

The Franco-Bosnian coach had led the Ivorians through a seamless qualifying campaign and lost just two of his 24 games in charge, a friendly in Japan at the start of his reign and against Algeria at the end.

The 3-2 defeat by the Algerians in the quarter-finals of the African Nations Cup in Angola in January was deemed disastrous by the ambitious Ivorians to the extent that the coach was given the sack, even with just months left before the start of the World Cup.

It has also been suggested that Halilhodzic's exit had as much to do with player power as it did with his failure to get the team further in the Nations Cup.

Eriksson had a first chance to see his new charges only at the start of May at their training camp in Switzerland, and friendlies against Paraguay and Japan will give the former England coach a better idea of his potential formations.

The form of the bulldozing Drogba and Kalou in helping Chelsea to lift their first Double in England has been eye-catching while Yaya Toure has been a regular starter in Barcelona's barnstorming La Liga title success.

Zokora is another outstanding defensive midfielder and the form of these leading lights will be key if the Ivorians are to pick up crucial points in their opening two encounters.

World-Factbox on Ivory Coast
May 21 (Reuters) - Factbox on the Ivory Coast who are competing in Group G at the World Cup in South Africa:

Colours: Orange shirts, socks and shorts, all with green trim

Nickname: The Elephants

Previous World Cup appearances: 1: 2006

Best World Cup performance: Did not get past the first round in 2006

Coach: Sven-Goran Eriksson

Most capped player: Didier Zokora 84

Top goalscorer: Didier Drogba 42

Talking points:

The change of coach just months before the start of the World Cup came despite an unbeaten run in the qualifying competition and has led to allegations of discord in the camp, a situation Eriksson will need to sort out before the team's opening game against Portugal on June 15. The Swede is a big-name trainer to boost the image and ego of Ivorian football but just what he can achieve with less than a month of preparation remains to be seen. The Elephants have the toughest draw of all the African sides with Brazil also in their group. The extent to which they rely on Didier Drogba has been evidenced in the past and when the Chelsea forward has an off-day, the team have few alternatives.

Players to watch:

Drogba will be keen keenly watched as the talisman of the side, with support up front from his club mate Salomon Kalou. Yaya Toure of Barcelona in the heart of midfield is another genuine world-class player and the experienced pair of Kolo Tore and Emmanuel Eboue in defence give the side more big-name recognition.
Ivory Coast Name Final List
The 23 players who will be flying Ivory Coast’s colours at the World Cup have been revealed by coach Sven-Goran Eriksson, with one major absence in Baky.

The former Marseille attacker, who is bound for Qatar and highly adored by the Ivorian public, did not make the final list. No explanations were given. Other eliminations are goalkeeper Vincent Angban, defender Abdoulaye Meite, midfielders Emerse Fae and Gilles Yapi Yapo and French Ligue 1 Lens forward Kanga Akale.

Those who made the list are:

Goalkeepers: Copa Barry (Lokeren), Zogbo Aristide (Maccabi Netanya), Yeboah Daniel (ASEC Abidjan).

Defence: Bamba (Hibernian), Boka Arthur (VfB Stuttgart), Guy Demel (Hambourg SV), Emmanuel Eboue (Arsenal), Gohouri (Wigan Athletic), Tiene Siaka (Valenciennes), Kolo Toure (Manchester City), Angoua (Valenciennes).

Midfield: Gosso Gosso (Monaco), Kader Keita (Galatasaray), Kone Kouamatien (International Curtea Arges), Gervinho (Lille), N’Dri Koffi Romaric, Didier Zokora (Séville), Ismael Tiote (Twente Enschede), Yaya Toure (FC Barcelone).

Forward: Aruna Dindane (Portsmouth), Seydou Doumbia (Young Boys Berne), Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou (Chelsea).
Trainer
Sven-Göran Eriksson