Colombia VS Ivory Coast

Two nations.

Two talismans.

Two diamond spearheads to two dangerous teams.

Unfortunately, one of them is injured, and the other is nearing the end of his career.

Had this clash taken place in South Africa 4 years ago, a younger Didier Drogba and a fully-fit Falcao would’ve grappled in a colossal battle for supremacy and the title of the World’s Greatest No. 9.

However, we’re left with the shadows of that era-defining battle, but still a very important match that promises to be quite even.

COLOMBIA

24 years ago, Colombia made it out of the group stage. Securing 3 points against the African Elephants will probably set that benchmark again. They dismantled Greece expertly, but were not always incisive enough and certainly lacked a little bit of bite. A certain Tiger might’ve offered that!

The South American side strode forward in purposeful waves against the Greeks and created numerous chances, but failed to finish them off. The 3-0 result was good, but against a better side they will look to inflict more damage, quicker.

PROBABLE STARTING XI

(4-4-2)
      Ospina
Zapata———————Yepes———————-Sanchez———————Armero
    Aguilar——————————————————-Gutierrez
      Rodriguez————-Cuadrado————————Ibarbo
    Zuniga

Colombia’s over-lapping full-backs will look to pour forward and overwhelm the West African defence just like they did against a resiliently defensive Greek side. Pablo Armero got on the scoresheet in the previous match, and the squad was good enough that Coach Pekerman will not want to change anything.

Winning this match will virtually seal qualification, and he can rest his starting XI in the next game against Japan and play a disciplined, defensive formation.

PLAYER TO WATCH

James Rodriguez

A slightly quiet performance against Greece masked his abilities against Greece, and the Monaco man will be looking to show just why he is one of Europe’s hottest properties right now. He has pace to burn and is deadly in the final third, and he will want to unsettle the sometimes shaky Ivorian defence.

IVORY COAST

One of Africa’s most star studded teams, the Elephants have a history of perennial under-achievement in this competition. Togolese striker Emmanuel Adebayor recently launched a stinging criticism of their ability to play as team, and they will be looking to quieten all the doubters this time around.

Boasting star names such Didier Drogba – who was voted the Best Chelsea FC Player ever upon departing as the man who brought the long-awaited first Champions League title to Stamford Bridge – and Yaya Toure – arguably the best midfielder in the Premier League, Ivory Coast has enough firepower to see off almost anyone. In Gervinho and Kalou they have speed and trickery, and in Bony they have an immensely powerful striker.

However, in the match against Japan, the only thing that mattered was their talisman and captain’s introduction. Until then, they looked extremely flat.

PROBABLE STARTING XI

(4-3-3)
    Barry
  Bamba——————————————-K. Toure
Aurier—————————————————————————-Boka
    Tiote————————-Y. Toure——————-Gradel
Kalou——————————————————————————-Gervinho
          Drogba

Against Colombia, Aurier and Boka will have to be much less cavalier, and Cheick Tiote will need to use all of his physiciality and passing range to make sure that he can feed Yaya Toure into the box and overload the South American defence. Kalou and Gervinho will need to take the Colombian full-backs on a fine ride all over the pitch whilst simultaneously tracking back and helping out their own full-backs.

PLAYER TO WATCH

Didier Drogba

The Stamford Bridge hero inspired his team to victory from nowhere against Japan; he’ll surely start this match. A man with free-kicks, passing, shooting and an incredible physique is basically impossible to stop, especially when he’s ready to pass to an almost carbon copy of himself in midfield (Yaya Toure). Frustrating Drogba will go a long way to frustrating his team.