When I was becoming England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has twice been forced to swallow bitter pill by Cristiano Ronaldo. The first Euro 2004 quarter-final, and the second at the 2006 World Cup quarter-final.
Now, as Ivory Coast coach, Eriksson has the potential to experience it again, though probably not going to make The Elephant thrown from Group G.
Match in Port Elizabeth this affects the fate of both clubs, for the Group G mesterius occupied North Korea and five-time world champions Brazil. Both will be involved in a fight that must be won, because the acquisition would be very difficult for a single digit.
Portugal will have to prove themselves worthy to the World Cup, due to a limp in the qualifiers. Côte d'Ivoire bersar expectations brought by the public, after a disappointing show at the African Nations Cup last year.
Although impressive in the last two matches, Portugal played a doubt impressive. In the back, coach Carlos Queiroz loses Pepe. Cristiano Ronaldo has still not been able to replicate such performances at Real Madrid. He was also not impressive during qualifying.
Côte d'Ivoire has a lot of talent, but if without Didier Drogba - who broke her hand as she faced Japan in a friendly - makes The Elephant pessimistic could escape to the second round at first.
Drogba had already returned to practice, but Eriksson is doubtful to play. Ban Ivory Coast captain would fall into the arms of Kolo Toure, if Drogba does not play. While the front lines will be filled Salomon Kalou and Seydou Doumbia.
For Portugal, Ivory Coast is not just Drogba. Côte d'Ivoire has a lot of talent competing in Europe, and will face familiar opponent.
In the stronghold of Portugal winger Simao Sabrosa is predicted will be ready to play. If not, Queiroz has been preparing for Danny.
Simao saw a meeting with Cote d'Ivoire as a tactical game. He believes more teams will win the ball game. While Queiroz warned his players to score first, so that Ivory Coast are under pressure.
5 last matches
Côte d'Ivoire:
03-03-2010 Ivory Coast 0-2 South Korea
28-03-2010 Togo 1-2 Ivory Coast
11-04-2010 Ivory Coast 4-0 Togo
30-05-2010 Paraguay 2-2 Ivory Coast
04-06-2010 Japan 0-2 Ivory Coast
Portugal:
19-11-2009 Bosnia-Herz 0-1 Portugal
04-03-2010 Portugal 2-0 China
25-05-2010 Portugal 0-0 Cape Verde
02-06-2010 Portugal 3-1 Cameroon
08-06-2010 Portugal 3-0 Mozambique
Côte d'Ivoire Situation
Kalu Ivory Coast only two European teams have met in 27 years. Last they face the Swiss in Abidjan, December 1983, and won 1-0.
Both teams have players know each other relative, because both compete in Spain and England. Unfortunately, Didier Drogba - the most feared player of Portugal - can not compete because of a broken hand in the face of Japan in a friendly. His position will be replaced Seydou Doumbia.
Players Forecast Composition (4-4-2): Boubacar Barry, Emmanuel Eboue, Kolo Toure, Souleymane Bamba, Siaka tiene, Kouassi Gervais, Didier Zokora, Yaya Toure, Cheik Tiote, Salomon Kalou, Seydou Doumbia.
Situation Portugal
Having looked impre
ssive in the last two games, friendship, coach Carlos Queiroz has found relatively best composition for this fight. Winger Simao Sabrosa has also recovered from injury and could be played in the first minute.For Deco is perhaps the last World Cup with Portugal, before returning to his country. While Ronaldo is hoping the third time was a nightmare for Sven-Goran Eriksson. England get rid of Ronaldo, who was then treated Eriksson at Euro 2004 and World Cup in 2006.
Players Forecast Composition (4-3-3): Eduardo, Paulo Ferreira, Bruno Alves, Ricardo Carvalho, Fabio Coentrao, Pedro Mendes, Raul Meireles, Deco, Ronaldo, Simao Sabrosa, Liedson.
Eligible players Observed
Yaya Toure: If Didier Drogba was absent, the focus of attention will be drawn to the Ivorian midfield. However if Drogba was playing, all eyes will be drawn to him. In fact, with or without Drogba, the fight will happen in midfield. In this position the role highly awaited Yaya Toure. He will become commander of Didier Zokora and all the colleagues at his side, so that Portugal does not dominate.
Raul Meireles: Throughout friendly melawqan Cameroon, Meireles extraordinary play in midfield. He scored two goals. Nothing wrong if Carlos Queiroz placing it as a starter. Meireles is also needed this fight, to feel the atmosphere of competition that more heavy. Public Portugal no longer expect fully to Cristiano Ronaldo, who failed to replicate their performance during qualifying.
Prediction
Although failing to show its best performance in the heating, Portugal are favorites to win this fight. On the other hand, Ivory Coast want to show how they can play and win without Drogba. If Portugal's just a little off guard, Ivory Coast will be punished.
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HEAD TO HEAD: Ivory Coast vs Portugal
Duel in the Nelson Mandela Bay, Port Elizabeth, in Group G World Cup 2010, Tuesday (15 / 6), will be the first meeting of Portugal and Côte d'Ivoire. Both teams had never met in the official World Cup game or test match.
Moreover, Ivory Coast has only recently started focusing on the world level as the emergence of a row of talented players like Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou (both Chelsea), Emannuel Ebou (Arsenal), Didier Zokora (Sevilla) and two brothers Kolo (Manchester City) as well as Yaya Toure (Barcelona).
Côte d'Ivoire began sticking after first qualifying for the World Cup in 2006. Only, The Elephants only survive in the preliminary round with the defeat of Argentina and the Netherlands. Nevertheless, they were able to beat Serbia and Montenegro 3-2.
Conversely, the duel against Portugal into separate notes for Ivory Coast coach, Sven Goran Eriksson. This Swede never met Portugal in the World Cup in 2006 when mengarsiteki England. The result, England lost on penalties in a duel in the quarter-finals.
Despite recent Ivorian deal, but Eriksson is an important contribution to the team. Eriksson considered successful in uniting the star player who definitely has a high ego.
"Eriksson has come to us and said, 'If you want to be one of the biggest teams in the world, we must be able to work together." She has helped us. He talked a lot on the players and often do meetings. He tried to unite the players, "said Kolo.
Portugal increasingly confirmed as the world's top teams have never won the trophy though. Best Achievement Seleccao das Quinas is ranked third in 1966 World Cup and European Cup finalist in 2004.
In preparation towards 2010 World Cup, Portugal's conduct trials against three African teams, Kep. Cape Verde, Cameroon and Mozambique. It shows a very calculating Portugal Ivory Coast, inhabited talented players.
Only, Drogba would be a threat behind the line of Portugal is still doubtful because of injury appear. The duel is also a reunion of Chelsea's Drogba and Kalou met while Deco, Ricardo Carvalho and Paulo Ferreira.
Portugal's last three games
Portugal 0-0 Kep. Cape Verde 25-05-2010
Portugal 3-1 Cameroon 02-06-2010
Portugal 3-0 Mozambique 08-06-2010
Côte d'Ivoire last three games
Ivory Coast 4-0 African Nations Cup Togo 11-04-2010
Ivory Coast 2-2 Paraguay trials 30-05-2010
Japanese Tests 0-2 Ivory Coast 04-06-2010
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