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How to beat Ivory Coast

June 12th, 2006 | By: Jan | 37 Comments »

Although most of us are still enjoying the win over S&M by Robben…eeh..sorry, I mean by Oranje, the Rotterdam-based newspaper AD already analyses the game play of Ivory Coast and offers us some elements to ponder if we want to win the second game in the Group of Death…
Ivory Coast has more than enough skill and power, as we saw in their match against Argentina. if Yaya Toure crosses the pitch, opponents seem to fall over just like that. The young midfielder is strong, has a fantastic technique and has a rare lung-capacity. Still, there is one flaw in his game, like many others in the team. He thinks he is a mailman, responsible for actually delivering the ball in the feet of Drogba. Only controlling midfielder Zokora seems to understand the passing game. This makes Ivory Coast somewhat predictable. The real susprises will have to come from individual actions, and the players do know how to play in a one-to-one situation. It took an hour into the match against Argentina before Drogba started gesturing to his mates, to play more pressure up front and try to defend forwards, as we say. Pressuring the Argentinian last line of defence to make mistakes. But to no avail. The Argentinians were allowed to play their favourite passing game and even Riquelme, a great but still predictable player, got every chance to play his fave game on the left side of the pitch. Ivory Coast couldn’t find a way to stop him doing what he likes best. Therefore, Riquelme received time and space to do what he does best and one good pass was enough to allow Saviola to score the 2-0.
Another problem of Ivory Coast is their lack of scorers apart from Drogba. Of the five goals Ivory Coast made over the last matches, Drogba scored four. So, by stopping Drogba from scoring, the chances of Ivory Coast scoring against Holland will be small. Against Argentina, coach Henri Michel’s team created several chances, but the team lacks the killer-instinct and cool to transform these into goals. There was some threat from the wings, but no real danger.
Another weak point in the team is goalie Tizie… He fumbled a header by Ayala, that might or might not have crossed the line, later he again lost the ball, but Gonzalez was regarded off side when he came in to score in the rebound.
Now, let’s get this straight: it won’t be easy to win against Ivory Coast. They are among the strongest teams in the WC. Marco van Basten also assessed the Argentina - Ivory Coast match as a high level match. Every time the passing machine of Argentina didn’t work, Ivory Coast thrusted past their opponents and the team also showed character when they fought their way back into the match in the last 15 minutes.
All in all, a strong and dangerous opponent, but like most teams, not without flaws…

Tags: Didier Drogba, Netherlands

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Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 37 comments.

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By Bessam | June 12th, 2006 at 8:09 pm

If you give it to Ruud in a place where he can score he will score 90 percent of the time.He is a great finisher. Though Robbens runs were skillful they were often finished off with a poorly aimed cross to the box which did not find Van Nistelrooy. Almost every attack from Holland was from Robben on the right, excpet for the Van Persie set up. I think if Holland can find Van Nistelrooy and set him up properly he wil defintly finish any day of the week.

Posted from United States

By Bessam | June 12th, 2006 at 8:10 pm

Correction I mean Robben on the LEFT

Posted from United States

By goose | June 12th, 2006 at 8:37 pm

@Bessam, you’re right with the crosses coming from the wingers,
saw to few decent balls goming from the sides
dont no why vanPersie had so few action in the game, i know he has a great cross, Ruud just needs to get ‘of the mark’ and he’ll score like crazy

look likes vanBommel en Mathijsen are ok to play against Ivory, altough vanBommel still has some moist(?) in his knee but he thinks he’ll play

bit of a long wait this till friday……

greetz

WOK HOUDEN VAN ORANJE

Posted from Netherlands

By Jason | June 12th, 2006 at 9:52 pm

Van Nistelrooy was crucial in the win with Serbia and that is because they were on him like glue. This gave Van Persie and Robben all sort of time and space.

We got to cut the guy some slack cause he is a marked man.

Posted from Canada

By lars | June 12th, 2006 at 11:48 pm

van persie is a player who very rarely gets into a game! and that is his main problem and the reason he doesnt start 4 arsenal. he drifts in and out of games and that is not wat we want from him that is why i would rather see kuyt on the right

Posted from United Kingdom

By goose | June 13th, 2006 at 12:04 am

@lars, yeah, but Robin is a very special player,

think he’ll be at his best in a position in the centre behind the striker like Bergkamp in his days (those beautifull days!)
and you know what they say about leftwingers, the run hot and cold all the time during a game,
Kuyt is inndeed a player whos in the game of 120% for 90 minutes but has less qualities(at the moment)in my opinion.

Posted from Netherlands

By Taz | June 13th, 2006 at 1:26 am

When is this match going to be?

EST Time?

Posted from Canada

By gwynn | June 13th, 2006 at 1:50 am

kuyt looked half the player that van persie is, he’s far too slow, and his touch is not as deft.

Posted from Canada

By Jan | June 13th, 2006 at 2:20 am

Good points guys… We could go forever :-). I agree with the crosses argument. There were not enough, and I also agree with Persie’s criticism on Robben. We should have won 3-0, if we would have really outplayed all our opportunities. And it’s true: Kuyt is a center striker and misses speed to play in Persie’s role. He could, but you’d lose a lot of that thrusting on the right wing.
There;s work to be done, but to me, we’re almost there. We have the 3 points in the bag and with Vaart coming on it can only get better.

Posted from Australia

By Gaston | June 13th, 2006 at 2:50 am

Some people are saying Ivory Coast might just take the number 2 spot in the group. Netherlands can’t afford to loose.

Posted from Canada

By jip jaap stam | June 13th, 2006 at 3:20 am

dont play van der vaart against ivory coast…african teams are physical and in his state you should not risk him… let cocu and van bommel do the grunt work in this game..we will need him in the later stages against skilled opponents…

Posted from Canada

By Van win | June 13th, 2006 at 4:17 am

Just remember everyone SM has maybe the best back line in the game and we still managed to cause them lots of problems. Ivory Coast not so strong back there. They have some talent no doubt but we are the better team so we cant worry to much about stopping certain players as much as we should focus on our team game. If we win we move on. THe prize is there. AS for the right wing position you have to go with Van Persie. He has the explosiveness that Kuyt does not own. THe few times he touched the ball he looked good.

Posted from Canada

By mrfocus | June 13th, 2006 at 5:33 am

“kuyt looked half the player that van persie is, he’s far too slow, and his touch is not as deft.” But he has something else that not very many players have, the real love for the game. If MvB had a bunch of defenders that were injured, and they desperatley needed someone, I’m sure he would look at Kuyt and tell him: “You wanna play defender”. The only thing Kuyt would do is jump on the occasion with a big smile.
That’s he real quality, his adaptability, his capability to play almost wherever vB wants him to. A player like that is great to have on a team where you can only bring 23 players to the pitch. You know you always have someone to rely on.

By sphinx | June 13th, 2006 at 5:38 am

I was not supprised to see Ruud didn’t involved much in scoring efforts. It could be the game plan to leave that thing to faster wingers on supprise attacks. It’s expactable to face thick central defence to confront Ruud.
Very interesting to see how is the match plan against faster and more aggressive IC.
I do expact an open game since we have more scoring options.
And should take chance on their perdictable play, means more experienced players are suitable for that match.

Posted from Myanmar

By Martijn | June 13th, 2006 at 9:01 am

Lars, i cannot agree with you on how van persie “rarely” gets into a game. Did you see him in the friendly matches. He was all over the place and a handfull for the defender to handle. On sunday, it was robbens time to shine. when Robben got the ball, he kept it, and rarely passed to the right where open space was and van persie. There should have been a more equal balance between right and left, which van basten also noticed. Creating a balance is critical, and the other midfielders and defenders layed to much pressure and confindence on Robben, while van persie was fitter because he had less to do. Creating a balance helps the team create more Opportunities, and about Van Persie saying that Robben should not get his head lose and play to shine, i totally agree with. and i think if he does do this, Van Basten will take him off and replace him till he gets some sence into that kid. But then again, His play was amazin, and proved more than a handful for defenders. Im Very confident about Ruud, god i love starting of conversations about one of our best strikers. So much to talk about. Cheers

Posted from Oman

By lars | June 13th, 2006 at 9:50 am

@goose. u say that wingers run hot and cold in a game, but van persie doesnt he runs cold most of the game and maybe has one or two good moments thats it. i dont rate him as a team player at all. he has still got a lot 2 learn and shouldnt be at the world cup

Posted from United Kingdom

By Jan | June 13th, 2006 at 10:23 am

Woah, Lars… Quite some words on v Persie :-). He’ll prove you wrong mate… I hope…

Posted from Australia

By goose | June 13th, 2006 at 10:53 am

@ lars,
its true, vanPersie wasnt a team player in his early days at Feyenoord (always problems with his older teammates like vanHooydonck, Bosveld) but i think he learned a great deal at Arsenal (esp. form Bergkamp), but deep in his hart i think vanPersie himself sees himself more as an attacking number 10 central behind Ruud than as a winger…

but still, i think your wrong in saying Robin isnt a team player, altough i guess there’s always room for improvement..

@mrfocus, all you say about Kuyt is so very true, hes a real soldier!!!

greetz yall

Posted from Netherlands

By lars | June 13th, 2006 at 4:31 pm

@goose i see where u r comin from coz van persie is extremly skilful but ive seen him play for arsenal most games and he doesnt change a game at all! not once have i seen him put in a man of the match performnce and most of his goals come from coming on late in the game wen arsenal are cruizing and all the pressure is off!

Posted from United Kingdom

By goose | June 13th, 2006 at 4:47 pm

@lars, havent seen much Arsenal games so guess you’re right..

in Holland we all hoped that he would learn from the great master (Dennis ofcourse) how to use his skills better for the team, not good to hear he hasnt learned.. he could be a deceding player..

greetz

Posted from Netherlands

By jip jaap stam | June 14th, 2006 at 2:15 am

lets just hope van persie will keep focused on his game and not so much the night life… just look what happened to kluivert…

Posted from Canada

By vic | June 14th, 2006 at 3:27 am

Mental lapses in defense are the achilles heel of African teams, testament to that have been the the results of goals scored by Argentina vs. Ivory Coast and even today btw. Korea vs. Togo. There will be a lot of space to operate in the flanks esp. when Eboue makes his runs forward.

Look forward to the matchups we see in Premiership matches: van Nisteelrooy-Toure, Eboue-Robben.

Posted from United States

By goose | June 14th, 2006 at 8:44 pm

@jjs: so very true your comment on vanPersie, his final year at Feyenoord looked very simular to a time in Kluiverts life at Ajax: a lot of partying, getting in trouble with girls etc.
in Holland we all hoped that he would grow up at Arsenal cause overthere he wasnt that special to the people like he was in Holland and to be fair havent heared any partying stories since..(any england fans know if thats a fact??)

very stupid thing to talk to the press about the ‘Robben thing’, he should know that all media is waiting for some problems in the dutch camp!! It should always stay within the team…

greetz

Posted from Netherlands

By Frank | June 15th, 2006 at 12:46 am

Maybe there’s an advantage in Nistelrooy’s insignificant role in the last game. As jason said they were on to him like glue. Probably some of that glue will go to Robben, giving Nistelrooy a better chance to shine…

By dutchboy | June 16th, 2006 at 6:30 am

Holland for the win. Goed gelukteam.

Posted from United States

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