Argentina Vs Ivory Coast


Venue: FIFA World Cup Stadium Hamburg


Kick Off 21h00 (SA Time)

Ernst Middendorp on Ivory Coast


Never in my days of watching the FIFA World Cup have I come across an African team with such quality and strength in depth like the Ivorians have, going into Germany 2006. This may be their first FIFA World Cup but with such quality in their team I doubt any one will be looking at them as World Cup Virgins, I am confident that the Ivorians will be looking at building on what they achieved at the African Cup of Nations in Egypt earlier this year. Should Argentina take the Ivorians lightly they will be doing themselves a great disservice as the Ivorian’s could spring a real surprise on Saturday evening,

In all parts of the field the Ivorians have real quality, from the back line to the front and with Kolo Toure, Marc Zoro and Toure’s Arsenal team mate Emmanuel Eboue marshalling the defense. The likes of Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and his partners upfront Carlos Tevez and Hernan Crespo could be in for a rough night in Hamburg.

The true strength and real quality of the Ivorian team shines through in midfield an attack with Saint Etienne’s Dider Zakora the most important man for the Elephants in midfield, with him carving the openings for Didier Drogba to finish off. Up front the Ivorians have a host of options to play around with, my thinking is their coach will use a three pronged attack with Aruna Kone playing behind Drogba and Bonaventure Kalou.

Probably one of the most mouth watering prospects of the early games in the 2006 FIFA World Cup, be prepared for a hard fought and very tightly contested game. I think that these two teams are very evenly matched and at this point it is to close to call who will leave Hamburg with three points.

Yusuf Muhammad on Argentina

Once again the luck of the draw evaded Argentina as the Albiceleste (sky blue and white) were for the second FIFA World Cup in succession, drawn into possibly the toughest group. Having faced England, Nigeria and Sweden four years ago Jose Peckerman’s team come face to face first with Africa’s brightest prospect the Ivory Coast. Thereafter in Group C they face Serbia and Montenegro who came through qualifying undefeated and than there is the masterful Dutch team under the guidance of Marco Van Basten.

Argentineans tired of looking North all the time and admiring Brazil’s success on the international soccer scene are expecting a lot from their team made up of a number of players who helped them win gold two years ago at the Athens Olympics. Peckerman is aware of the expectations place upon his team by the football mad Argentine public and he has stuck to a similar combination from that which brought him gold in Athens.

Peckerman has a well balanced side with youthful and experienced players, in the latter department he will be looking at the likes of Pablo Aimar, Juan Pablo Sorin and Roberto Ayala carrying the team forward. On the other end the exciting Lionel Messi whose entertaining style of play has drawn comparisons to the legendary Diego Maradonna, will be looking to weave the same kind of magic he does at club level for Barcelona in Spain’s La Liga.

They are also in the fortunate position of entering the FIFA World Cup with the likes of Juan Roman Riquelme and Javier Saviola showing the kind of form that brought them international recognition when they were teenagers.

Up front much will depend on what Hernan Crespo and Carlos Tevez who plays for Corinthians in Brazil can deliver. It was Tevez’s goals that brought Argentina glory in Athens and paired up along side the dangerous Crespo Argentina could have finally found the right combination to bring them much needed success up front.

Going into this game Argentina will be aware that the Ivorians will be hard nuts to crack but their superior World Cup experience should help them shade this one.