World Cup 2006: Ivory Coast, elephant charge.

By European Football
May 23 2006

Before being more or less conned into writing this article, by my offspring I knew exactly three things about the Ivory Coast. 1. Didier Drogba played for them.

2. Their coach took France to the semi-finals in 1986.

3. They are nicknamed ‘The Elephants.’


I could tell you a bit more about the country, its political climate and the fact its wracked by civil war, but hell this is about football, so I will just content myself with saying, giving the state of the Ivory Coast, its nothing short of a miracle that they are at the world cup.

I then started my research and it was a case of one after another of the players I encountered, I never realised actually played for the Ivory Coast, but then again apart from Tarzan movies I don’t actually class myself an expert on all things African.

The squad however is peppered with French born talent (see I wasn’t the only confused about where they were from, the players are themselves) Drogba, and Bakiri Kone, currently plying his trade for Nice, are just two players recognisable to more than a few.

Then came Arsenal’s Emanuel Eboue, who for whatever reason I thought played for Congo, so assuming that it’s his fault I am wrong, we will progress to several other key players for the World Cup Debutants.

Up front of course is national hero and French born Drogba, who will be expected to be partnered by Lens front man Aruna Dindane, with Kone, appearing from the bench.

The team’s playmaker and the player to watch could be PSG’s Bonaventure Kalou, who is usually helped by the attack minded Gilles Yapi-Yapo.

Arguably the star of the Champions League final Toure (who I am rapidly becoming to except that he is probably not from the Congo) is the rising star of the defence, but will be helped by the experience of veteran defenders Cryille Domoraud and Blaise Kouassi.

Now to the important stuff, their chances of progressing. Not a hope in hell, with all the good will in the world, they have a tough group, a group where I can confidently see Argentina and Holland progressing from.

They certainly have talent, and even more on the way through, they are organised and could provide a shock or two along the way, but for me if an African nation is to win the World Cup it will not be the Ivory Coast, still funny things happen in football all the time, Greece anyone.

Now to kill a bit of time between now and June 9th, I am going to buy a map and work out exactly why I thought Toure was from the Congo.

Join us for the world cup, where we aim to provide something a little different from the rest; we have writers from all over Europe and even one in South America.

We will be concentrating on the news not readily available in England, all translated and waiting to debate.

So join us for the greatest tournament in the world, with a healthy dose of cynicism thrown in for free.