23 for 2010 – Ivory Coast: World Cup squad analysis

Côte d’Ivoire. The Ivory Coast. African giants. Africa’s underachievers. Côte d’Ivoire’s great paradox is that, in modern football, they are one and the same.

Amongst the favourites for the last two African Cup of Nations, the Elephants flattered to deceive in both Ghana and Angola – devastating on their day but flat when it really mattered.

In the latter competition, Côte d’Ivoire snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in a quarter final against Algeria, taking the lead with minutes to go and yet still conspiring to throw it away, and this grave disappointment ultimately led to the dismissal of Bosnian coach Vahid Halihodzic, much to his own personal chagrin.

To replace him, a familiar name to England fans was drafted in – Sven Goran Eriksson. Having managed international sides on three different continents, Eriksson certainly offers the Ivorian national team experience. But he’s had little time to assess the squad, only travelling Europe to meet players, and does not have much time with which to mould the squad to his liking.

Unsurprisingly then, Eriksson named few surprise call-ups in his provisional squad for South Africa. Here’s who made the 30 man World Cup squad:

Goalkeepers:

Boubacar Barry (Lokeren), Vincent Angban (ASEC Mimosas) Daniel Yeboah (ASEC Mimosas), Aristide Zogbo (Maccabi Netanya)

Often pinpointed as the weak link in an otherwise strong team, goalkeeper Boubacar Barry is expected to remain the Elephants’ number one choice between the sticks. A charismatic personality and popular within the dressing room, Barry is however not the most reliable of goalkeepers. His positioning and handling are questionable, and he fails to command his area the way great goalkeepers do so naturally.

First choice at the last two Cup of Nations gives him the edge though, and having battled with Jugoslav Lazic for the number one shirt at Lokeren all season in Belgium, Barry should find his position more secure with the national team.

Defenders:

Souleman Bamba (Hibernian), Arthur Boka (Stuttgart), Emmanuel Eboué (Arsenal), Abdoulaye Méïté (West Bromwich Albion), Siaka Tiéné (Valenciennes), Kolo Touré (Manchester City), Guy Demel (Hamburg), Steve Gohouri (Wigan Athletic) Benjamin Angoua (Valenciennes)

Côte d’Ivoire played with four at the back during the African Cup of Nations 2010, and as a defensive system also favoured by Sven it is likely they will line up similarly in South Africa come June. At right back Emmanuel Eboué will be first choice with Guy Demel in reserve.

Eboué is not the most consistent of performers as Arsenal fans might contend, but he offers drive, energy and strength down the right hand side of defence and can get up and down the pitch regularly to support his team in attack. The Arsenal man’s reliability however is open to question.

A red card for a dreadful two-footed challenge against Ghana in Angola saw him ruled out for the rest of Côte d’Ivoire’s Cup of Nations earlier this year, Guy Demel his replacement for the remainder of the tournament. Eboue will need better discipline to deal with Portugal and Brazil’s attacking threats in particular.

At centre back, Kolo Touré is all but guaranteed a starting berth, partnering either Abdoulaye Méïté or Souleymane Bamba. Touré is part of the backbone that makes Côte d’Ivoire such a potentially dangerous outfit, but both Méïté and Bamba could lay claim to the second centre back position and will hoping to impress Sven in the training camps leading up to their opening game against Portugal.

At left back Eriksson has a big decision to make – does he go with Valenciennes’ Siaka Tiéné or Arthur Boka? Since the arrival of new coach Christian Gross at VfB Stuttgart Boka found himself increasingly out of favour at the Mercedes-Benz Stadion, hardly featuring at all in the second half of the season.

Tiéné meanwhile was a regular at Valenciennes, while Halihodzic also favoured him at this year’s African Cup of Nations. Unless Eriksson opts to utilise Tiéné further up the pitch one imagines he will be first choice left back.

Midfielders:

Emerse Fae (Nice), Romaric (Sevilla), Cheick Tioté (Twente), Yaya Touré (Barcelona), Gilles Yapi Yapo (Young Boys), Didier Zokora (Sevilla), Kanga Akalé (Lens), Emmanuel Koné (Cluj)

The solidity, athleticism and sheer power in Côte d’Ivoire’s midfield is arguably the nation’s strongest weapon heading into South Africa, and an element of the team Brazil, Portugal and North Korea are all no doubt aware of. Several impressive players are available to Sven here.

Yaya Touré, league winner with FC Barcelona, is another part of that Côte d’Ivoire backbone I mentioned earlier. Underrated somewhat amidst all the star turns at Camp Nou, Touré junior is nonetheless of great importance to country if not club, and his improved form in recent weeks will no doubt encourage Ivorians everywhere.

Traditionally Eriksson has favoured a 4-4-2 formation in the past, and if he continues in this vein real competition exists for the second central midfield role. Cheick Tioté looked good for FC Twente in the latter part of this season in the holding role, while Yapi Yapo, Romaric and Zokora can all perform admirably in a similar position.

Romaric was omitted from the Cup of Nations squad by Halihodzic for disciplinary reasons, but is back for the World Cup and his dynamism, good passing range and attacking qualities mean he should feature prominently. Zokora meanwhile is all-action, and with 80 caps to his name already will be heavily involved.

I suspect that with Brazil and Portugal as opponents Eriksson will play a 4-3-3 similar to the one Côte d’Ivoire employed in Angola – Zokora, Touré and Romaric the likely trio.

Forwards:

Aruna Dindane (Portsmouth), Seydou Doumbia (CSKA Moscow), Didier Drogba (Chelsea), Salomon Kalou (Chelsea), Abdul Keïta (Galatasaray), Bakari Koné (Marseille), Gervinho (Lille), Jean-Jacques Gosso Gosso (Monaco), Lacina Traoré (Cluj)

Côte d’Ivoire possess talent in abundance in attacking areas. We all know about the mighty, totemic figure that is Didier Drogba – team leader and symbol of a nation. But beyond him there are further talents. Kalou, Dindane, Baky Kone, Kader Keita, Gervinho; all are gifted and, importantly, versatile.

Gervinho scored 18 goals for Lille this season despite missing chunks of the campaign through injury and international duty. He can play on the wing or as a central striker. Kalou is useful as an impact sub or as any part of a three-pronged attack. Dindane’s form has picked up of late. Baky Kone, although not a regular, just won a league title at Marseille. So too Lacina Traore at Cluj.

One suspects that Eriksson will favour the Premier League stars, which might mean Drogba and Kalou upfront plus one (between Dindane and Gervinho I’d guess). Gervinho should be an automatic starter given a successful season, but Eriksson may prefer Dindane’s raw physicality. The likes of Keita and Kone will likely find themselves on the bench.

Côte d’Ivoire are a side filled with capable players, the Great Black Hope for Africa at this World Cup despite awful luck in the draw. Brazil and Portugal are fearsome opponents, North Korea an unknown quantity. There is no time to feel their way into the tournament; the Elephants have to come out stomping from the first whistle or face early elimination.

The passage is tough, but on their day the team is capable of pulling off the required shocks. They will doubtless be compelling to watch.

Possible starting lineup: (4-3-3) – Barry, Eboue, K Toure, Bamba, Tiene, Romaric, Y Toure, Zokora, Kalou, Drogba, Gervinho.

What should Côte d’Ivoire’s starting lineup be in South Africa? Tell us your thoughts on their squad below.

23 for 2010, Cote d\'Ivoire, Squad Analysis, World Cup 2010