2010's Dark Horses: An Ivory Tower of Hope

Referring to the Ivory Coast as a dark horse may elicit some grumbling from the most avid soccer fans. After all, the team does boast a number of elite players, including Didier Drogba, arguably the world’s best striker; a world cup tested coach in Sven Goran Eriksson; and plenty of people who believe that Les Éléphants will survive this world cup’s group of death at the expense of Portugal. Be that as it may, African teams are notorious world cup underachievers, and since 1990, only two teams have made it to the quarterfinals (Cameroon 1990, Senegal 2002). Nevertheless, at the risk of sounding like a Holland fan that redundantly claims that, “this is the year,” this may indeed be the Ivory Coast’s year. Here’s why:

Reason 1: Didier Drogba – Quite possibly the most dominant forward around, Drogba’s size and speed make him virtuously impossible to defend against. This may be especially true when the Ivory Coast face Portugal and North Korea, two teams that lack in size at the back. At 32, this may also be the last opportunity for Drogba to shine on the world stage, something that is surely not lost on the tempestuous forward.

Reason 2: The proverbial “soccer backbone” – One of the most clichéd axioms in soccer is that in order to win, a team needs strong players down the middle. Les Éléphants have just that. Apart from Drogba, who may very well be platooning at the top by himself, the Touré brothers furnish the team with a sturdy spine. Although Yaya hasn’t found last season’s form, and has been relegated to Barcelona’s bench by Sergio Busquets, he still ranks among the world’s best defensive-midfielders. As well as disrupting opponents’ offensive fluidity, Yaya is very comfortable on the ball, and can thread devastating passes. The older Touré’s wealth of experience will also prove fundamental to the team’s success. Though slightly undersized for his position, Kolo’s strength and pace make him a dogged man-marker who can cause imbalances when he steams up the middle of the pitch to help the attack.

Reason 3: Sven Goran Eriksson - His appointment may have been received with some skepticism, but one would be remiss to underestimate the Swede’s vast experience. A European and world cup veteran, and league winner in both Italy and Portugal, Eriksson is an adept tactician who is well liked by his players. Often vilified for not having won any silverware with England, and including Theo Walcott in his 2006 world cup squad, Eriksson also has a good eye for talent, and was the first to vocalize the scarcity of world-class English wingers (a problem that may still prove fatal to England’s world cup hopes). Besides the short amount of time between his appointment and the world cup, Eriksson’s biggest struggle will be to win over his new players. If he overcomes that challenge, the Swede could guide the team to the knockout phases.

Potential Handicap: Didier Drogba – There is no doubt that the Ivory Coast will live or die by Drogba. If Drogba keeps his emotions in check, there are very few players who will be as important to their teams, as he will. On the other hand, if Drogba suffers a meltdown (think Chelsea’s Champions League games against Barcelona and Inter), he will surely derail any chance the team has of triumphing. Drogba will also be key to Eriksson’s success. Bitterly disappointed that Guus Hiddink turned down the position, Drogba must quickly show that he has trust in Eriksson’s leadership. If Eriksson fails to control the influential Chelsea man, the mild-mannered Swede will surely fail.

What to Watch For: The Ivory Coast’s games against Portugal and Brazil will provide two mouth-watering matchups. Against Portugal, Drogba will most likely be marked by his Chelsea teammate Ricardo Carvalho. When battling Brazil, Drogba will come up against Lucio once again, and if this year’s Champions League is any indicator, the Brazilian Bully could get into the Ivorian’s head and do some psychological damage.