World Cup 2014: Ivory Coast V Japan. Match Report

First published by Ace Magazine, June 2014.

Until the legendary Didier Drogba came off the bench, The Ivory Coast never truly looked like breaking sweat, let alone scoring. Yet something changed in the space of two minutes, something astonishing happened, The Ivory Coast suddenly turned on the heat, the drums in the stands, so long a sound to terrify even the most seasoned of explorers to the dark-continent, became louder, deafening and thunderous and matched the intensity in which Cheick Tioté, Didier Drogba and Yaya Touré had wanted their team to play.

Until the ex-Chelsea striker came on the pitch, the Japanese looked easy on the eye, their passing was as a crisp and lively as one the countries motor cars and the opening goal of the game, a goal that exposed the vulnerability of the African defence and was as beautiful to watch as a 1950s Japanese film.

Playing in Europe certainly seems to suit some players, it certainly does for the resolute Kesiuke Honda and his style of play would have had England fans who stayed up late into the early hours of the morning after they had watched their side disappointingly, if not surprisingly, lose a close encounter with Italy, slaver at the thought that if only Wayne Rooney could have played in the same brutish, roaring fashion. His shot on goal, after working well with fellow European based players Shinji Kagawa and Shinji Okazaki was one that was straight out of the top drawer, in fact the top draw would have had a hidden compartment somewhere deep within in and a signed memorandum saying, top, top drawer, open with care.

To allow somebody with the fire power of Godzilla so much room that they may have as well been playing on a ground deep in Argentina is unforgivable, it shows disrespect to a man who enjoys his football in Italy, that Italian/Japanese mind-set shows when you watch him play, he is simply unafraid, the goal just seems to invite him to shoot and with the Ivorian players backing of him; the temptation to believe that Japan could cause a minor shock was well on the cards.

With Japan looking settled and the Ivory Coast seemingly floundering in the darkness of the Brazilian night, to have at your disposal the talent of a man who made the last ten years of watching Chelsea play football both riveting and heart-breaking as his talent and reputation went far too often before him, to have that talent on the subs bench would be the type of dream that England could perhaps only dream of.

Within a few minutes of coming on, Yaya Touré, so often Manchester City’s guiding light alongside Captain Vincent Kompany and England keeper Joe Hart in an unprecedented season, looked a different player. The mantle of being one of the world’s best in the last couple of years seemed to establish itself on the international field. Yes the giant of a man, both physically and mentally, has been injured of late but like his performances at Manchester City when he has had the likes of David Silva, Sergio Ageuro and Milner around him suggest that he is not just a man who can create something out of nothing, who can terrorise a defence with a glowering stare, let alone baring down upon them with the speed of a Jaguar hunting down injured prey, but he needs to know there are players around him who can be just as intimidating. In a team of wallflowers, this wonderful Hulk of a man might just feel unloved enough to shrink into the background.

With Didier Drogba on the pitch his whole demeanour changed, his whole outlook reflected belief and for Didier Drogma, talismans rarely come as sweet.

He may divide opinion in England, his talent undoubted, his temperament often lacking in humility, his positioning unquestionable and the way he inspires players such as the dedicated Salomon Kalou, the mercurial Wilfried Bony is off the scale. Yet with a simple touch of the ball, a run deep into the heart of the Japanese defence, all changed, the drums, every the symbol of an approaching all-conquering army started to fall silent on one side of the pitch and conviction spread right through each member of the Ivorian squad.

If there is an African team, aside from Nigeria who can carry the expectation of an entire continent then in this mood The Ivory Coast could really make an impact on this year’s World Cup.

Two goals from Wilfried Bony and Gervinho in as many minutes made the Japanese tremble, the former bluster and good play deserted them and whatever the score before the arrival of Didier Drogba on the pitch, it is fair to say the men from Africa would have got the required goals to give them the three points to start their World Cup campaign off perfectly.

This particular group actually could be seen as one of the clear cut after one set of matches with both Columbia and the Ivory Coast arguably certain to qualify. Who would bet against it?

Ivory Coast: Boubacar Barry, Didier Zokora, Serge Aurier, Sol Bamba, Arthur Boka, Cheick Tioté, Serey Die, Yaya Touré, Salomon Kalou, Wilfried Bony, Gervinho.