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Outright Odds: 80/one
Team C Winners: nine/1
The Ivory Coastline topped their qualifying group even so the margins among success and failure ended up so extreme it came all the way down to a single penalty kick with just four minutes of qualification remaining.
From the penultimate qualifying match, the Ivorians needed a victory versus Cameroon to be sure qualification, but they missing 3-2 in Abidjan. Their subsequent 3-one away win at Sudan could well be meaningless if Earth Cup mainstays Cameroon beat Egypt. The match was all square at 1-1 until finally Cameroon were awarded a penalty four minutes into harm time. A successful spot kick would deliver them as a result of but Pierre Wome strike the surface on the write-up as well as Ivory Coast have been heading to Germany.
The Ivory Coastline are arguably the strongest African facet participating in the finals, with Cameroon, Nigeria, Morocco and Senegal all failing to qualify. However, They're also pitted in the toughest group and will must be at their best from traditional favourites for example Argentina and Holland.
Chelsea striker Didier Drogba qualified prospects the entrance line and contributed nine goals as his country competent for The 1st time in 8 attempts. Arsenal defender Kolo Toure is the most recognisable defender even so the group oozes high quality from gamers predominantly plying their trade in France.
Partnering Drogba in assault is Lens forward Aruna Dindane though playmaker Bonaventure Kalou, from Paris St Germain and St. Ettienes Didier Zakora are all capable of generating an effects. In defence Toure is joined by Abdoulaye Meite from Marseille, Strasbourgs Etienne Boka and veteran Cyrille Domoraud, now participating in for Creteil.
Becoming positioned in these types of a tricky qualifying group, the Ivorians will profit enormously from having a mentor of Henri Michels stature. The vastly seasoned coach is in control of his sixth nationwide staff adhering to stints at France, Cameroon, Morocco, Tunisia as well as United Arab Emirates. With 20 several years knowledge to contact on, he will make certain Drogba and co. are fully geared up to the job forward.
Even though the team are sturdy in many regions, They're also probe to an absence of focus. This was highlighted in their qualifier against Cameroon which could have seen them pass up out on a location in the finals. You will also find doubts raised on their capability to Perform away from home soon after qualifying defeats to Egypt and Cameroon and a goalless attract with Libya.
Suggested Bet:
Senegal burst on to the Global scene four several years in the past after they defeat an less than-par France 1-0 from the opening match And so the Ivory Coastline could potentially do precisely the same. If they may do the unthinkable and beat both Argentina or Holland, a point of their remaining match in opposition to Serbia & Montenegro could see them through to the final 16.
Ivory Coast vs Serbia & Montenegro draw @ 5/2