Ivory Coast Team Preview

The Players

1 Boubacar Barry goalkeeper, Lokeren

2 Ousmane Diarrassouba defender, Caykur Rizespor

3 Arthur Boka defender, Stuttgart

4 Kolo Touré defender, Liverpool

5 Didier Zokora defender, Trabzonspor

6 Mathis Bolly forward, Fortuna Düsseldorf

7 Jean-Daniel Akpa-Akpro defender, Toulouse

8 Salomon Kalou forward, Lille

9 Cheik Tioté midfielder, Newcastle United

10 Gervinho forward, Roma

11 Didier Drogba (captain) forward, Galatasaray

12 Wilfried Bony forward, Swansea City

13 Didier Ya Konan midfielder, Hannover

14 Ismaël Diomandé midfielder, Saint-Étienne

15 Max Gradel forward, Saint-Étienne

16 Sylvain Gbohouo goalkeeper, Séwé Sport

17 Serge Aurier defender, Toulouse

18 Constant Djakpa defender, Eintracht Frankfurt

19 Yaya Touré midfielder, Manchester City

20 Serey Die midfielder, Basel

21 Giovanni Sio forward, Basel

22 Sol Bamba defender, Trabzonspor

23 Sayouba Mandé goalkeeper, Stabaek

Star man

Yaya Touré is a bull of a midfield player who leaves defenders looking like trampled daisies. His return of 20 Premier League goals would have scooped the player of the year awards in a normal season after his blockbusting displays for Manchester City. He should be given licence to push forward to cause maximum destruction, although his considerable skills will definitely be needed elsewhere too.

Most likely to be sent home in disgrace …

The dirty work will fall to the aptly-named Serey Die. Having been banned for four months for walking out on his club in Algeria, the tough-tackling defensive midfielder was accused of match-fixing (an accusation he denied) while at Sion in 2010 after turning up to training in a new Porsche days after his fifth red card in the space of just 14 months. But Die’s proudest moment came two years later when he was banned for eight matches for slapping a 13-year-old ballboy.

The coach

A failed experiment with a home-grown manager, Francois Zahoui, saw ‘The Elephants’ return to the tried and tested formula of a European head coach. Sabri Lamouchi has done what was expected and reached the finals. Now to get out of the group.

Grudge match

After qualifying at the expense of bitter enemies Senegal, Lamouchi has bigger fish to fry. An opportunity to put one over former colonial masters France would be top of his list after being one of six unlucky players who were left out of Aimé Jacquet’s Les Bleus squad on the eve of their 1998 triumph.

Holed up

The Oscar Inn Eco Resort in Águas de Lindoia, 170km to the north of São Paulo, is owned and run by none other than Oscar Bernardi from Brazil’s 1982 World Cup side. So they can expect plenty of stories of what could and might have been for Zico and friends. And there’s always the nearby thermal baths and fresh springs from a region that supplies 60% of Brazil’s mineral water.

How they qualified
Beat Senegal 4-2 on aggregate in a two-legged play-off after winning a group containing Morocco, Tanzania and Gambia.

World Cup high
The joy of qualifying for the tournament for the first time in 2006 was tempered slightly when they found themselves in a group with Argentina, Holland and Serbia & Montenegro. It proved too tough a task for Didier Drogba and co.

World Cup low
The group stage elimination four years ago in South Africa was tough to take for what, on paper, is Africa’s strongest sign. They are not known as ‘chokers’ for nothing.

Familiar faces
Kolo Touré (Liverpool), Yaya Touré (Manchester City), Cheick Tioté (Newcastle United), Arouna Koné (Everton).

Title odds: 100/1

The stereotype is …
Pace, power, raw talent, naïve at the back, doing it for Africa.

The reality is …
If anything the failings of the Ivory Coast’s ‘golden generation’ has come as a result of playing with caution and a sense that they are weighed down by the expectation levels.

What they’re known for
Didier Drogba 50 per cent
Civil war 20 per cent
Beaches 20 per cent
Alpha Blondy 10 per cent

How Google translates the national anthem
Hi O land of hope; Country hospitality. Your gallant legions noted your dignity.

How long it lasts
A disjointed 70 seconds.

How to dress like their fans 

Head-to-toe white body paint, sunglasses and an elaborate hand-carved elephant-head mask. Pretty straightforward really.

Commentator’s go-to stat
Expect patronising comments such as: ‘They’re not just playing for the 20 million people back in the Ivory Coast. They’re carrying the hopes of one billion Africans.’