After their amazing 0-0 draw against Portugal, the Elephants of Ivory Coast appear wild enough to challenge Brazil.
Cote d'Ivoire’s performance against Portugal in their Group G opener last Tuesday stunned many and kudos have been pouring out in favor of the team’s coach, Sven-Goran Eriksson, who has visibly reformed this once unsatisfactory squad, especially in defense.
Now is time to confirm that reform as they face off against Brazil on Sunday. One new attribute that everyone saw with the Elephants during the Portugal clash was an unfaltering fighting spirit. The Africans, unlike other times, were fierce and fearless in face of a Christiano Ronaldo-led Selecçao. Their defense neutralized the Portuguese attack, and Ivory Coast’s Aruna Dindane and Gervinho even troubled Portugal’s defense.
With much confidence reaped from Portugal’s encounter, the Ivorians may not be highly intimated by Brazil. Also, considering Brazil’s modest performance against supposed minnows of the group, North Korea, the Elephants may be able to hold their ground against Dunga’s men.
Football pundits in Ivory Coast even believe the Elephants can beat Brazil if they repeat the kind of game they rolled out against Portugal: physical rigor, closing of spaces in the midfield, hindering the opponent from holding the ball and developing their game and maintaining multiple defense lines.
But Brazil are a big and experienced team, capable of applying individual push if collective play falters. And with Inter’s Maicon, going face to face again with Didier Drogba, just like last season’s Champions League leg showdown between Inter and Chelsea, Ivory Coast may know hard times too. And don’t forget that Drogba is not 100% fit.
With some of the top nations of the tournament in a difficult situation, Brazil will be doing everything possible to claim their ticket for the next round, as well as avoiding any uncertainty in the last group game against Portugal.
Ivory Coast at this stage of the event, have almost realized their objective, having reconciled with locals fans via that awesome performance against Portugal. The Africans “have nothing to win and nothing to lose against Brazil”. And so, they will be negotiating this encounter with less pressure. A 1-0 loss to the mighty Selecao will even be highly saluted by fans.
One more thing that may boost the Ivorians’ rage will be the fact that a whole continent is counting on them, just like they do with Ghana, to fly Africa’s colors high at the World Cup. At a point in time when Nigeria, Cameroon, South Africa and Algeria are in complicated scenarios, Ivory Coast may bring smiles to millions of faces on the African continent tomorrow evening. Drogba and co. know this, and will strive to make it real.
Juxtaposing Ivory Coast with Brazil, the latter are the heavyweights of tomorrow’s encounter, but the Africans can create another surprise that will sound across homes and hearts for a long time.
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