World Cup Team History: Côte d’Ivoire.

April 8th, 2010 | by: chris |

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For a country with such expectations going into South Africa, Côte d’Ivoire doesn’t have much of a World Cup history – and what little of it there is isn’t spectacular. So 2010 will be something of a fresh beginning, they’ll hope.

World Cup 2006, Germany

From the outset, it was never going to go well: Argentina, Holland, Serbia & Montenegro. The first two need no introduction, but Serbia & Montenegro had that Famous Four defense which conceded a lone goal in qualification. They’d become much less Famous after being shellacked by Argentina 6-0, but it was still a daunting task for the Ivory Coast/Cote d’Ivoire (however you prefer).

Their first World Cup debut, as opposed to their second debut, was against Argentina, which really isn’t nice. No hospitable warm up or anything of the sort, even if expectations were tepid by lofty Argentine standards. The Superstar, Drogba, would get his goal, but it wouldn’t end well: a 2-1 loss.

The next game was no great reprieve, coming up against the Netherlands. As was the case with the first game, they’d go down two goals – each game featuring one from a veteran poacher.

From there, it would be bittersweet: Bakary Kone’s good finishing and even better cornrows would get a goal back, but it was Didier Zokora’s screamer off the woodwork which led to wondering what could’ve been. A draw possible, but another 2-1 loss, and an early exit from the World Cup, it would be.

That brought up the mathematically meaningless game between CdI and S&M, as neither team had anything left to play for. This one begun with an all too familiar tone: an early 2-0 hole. But from there, it was the Ivory Coast’s comeback show. A penalty scored – twice – by Arouna Dindane, a header after sub Albert Nad had been sent off – followed by a superb dance routine at the corner with Didier Drogba – and another late, late penalty meant their first ever World Cup win.

It also means the Ivory Coast is the only World Cup team in history to score a goal in every World Cup game in which they’ve played (or so says Wikipedia). No pressure in the Group O’Death…

- For more on the Ivory Coast read Elliot’s Ivory Coast blog.
- Find more World Cup team histories here.

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Sam

And Cote d’Ivoire should’ve had at least two penalties in the game against Netherlands.
http://www.no1fan.co.uk/england.php Football gifts

I fancy them now Sven’s in charge (not)
http://www.worldcupblog.org Daryl

If the Elephants qualify for 2014, then lady luck owes them an easy group.
http://australia.worldcupblog.org Luka

That final meaningless game against Serbia was in my opinion the most entertaining match of the whole tournament.
http://denmark.worldcupblog.org Cerberus

Daryl-

They don’t actually have a terrible group this run. I mean, not easy, but doable. Brazil have looked less than dominant at times, North Korea are good, but distinctly underdogs, and Portugal are almost a one-man squad, though certainly not push-overs.

For a group of world-cup caliber teams, this is one that Cd’I has a good shot of progressing through.

I’d argue the Groups of death this tournament (or the closest things to them) might actually be Groups D and E.
http://denmark.worldcupblog.org Cerberus

Or maybe Group B, if Nigeria are motivated enough.
ahmad

OVERRATED
http://seattle.theoffside.com Laurie

Must say that I hope their streak continues, if only because they have amazingly choreographed goal celebrations.
pencho15

They were the apparently strongest team from Africa the last world cup, but they had terrible luck in the draw, and altought the group this year is a little easier they will still have a tough time to advance, I hope they can overcome Portugal.
gaston

they are a generation team, after drgoba’s generation i dont think another team from cote d’ivoire will come. a team strong enough to go to world cups