Touloun 2010 tournament began today with a convincing win by the u21 Ivorians. The future looks bright for Cote d'Ivoire and it looks like the country is here to stay... Cote d'Ivoire - Japan 3:0 Bakary Sare (9'), Serge Deblé (20' PK), Yannick Sagbo (63') Ibrahim Kone looks like a great keeper for the future. SQUAD: 16 KONE Ibrahim (US Boulougne) (cap) 2 BAGAYOKO Mamadou (ŠK Slovan Bratislava) 3 BAMBA Ali Vanomo (Le Mans) 4 SOUMAHORO Johnson (AC Amiens) 6 KONE Allassane (Standard Lüttich) 8 BOLI Yannick (PSG) (-56') 11 KONE Moussa (Atalanta) 9 SARE Bakary (Anderlecht) 7 OUEDRAOGO A. Moustapha (C.D. Trofense) (-75') 18 SAGBO Yannick Anister (AS Monaco) 20 DEBLE Serge (SCO Angers) (-77') BENCH: 1 TAHOUROU Yagnele Clovis (ASEC Mimosas) 5 TOURE Cheick (Fulham) 10 YACOUB Meite (FC Sion) (+ 56') 12 SIO Giovanni (FC Sion) (+ 77') 13 DJA DJEDJE Brice (PSG) 14 COULIBALY Tiecoura (ASEC Abidjan) 15 TRAORE Moustapha (Guingamp) 17 AKICHI Ogou Edmond (AFAD) (+ 75') 19 GOHOU Bi Goua G. (Neuchatel Xamax)
Second match: Colombia - Cote d'Ivoire 0:2 Gohou 62', 66' Colombia was outmuscled in this game. Plus one goal with some really nice touches. Supersub Bi Gohou scores twice - big guy (tall and very bulky ala Yakubu style) just seems to be to big for the Colombian and they have no idea how to defend against him. Good to see a Cote d'Ivoire side which knows how to play with setpieces. Stark comparison with the naive setpieces by the senior side.
France - Cote d'Ivoire 2:1 Nestor 51', Dossevi 61' - Sare 55' Very even game, but the result had almost no importance. Cote d'Ivoire made 9 changes, whilst France made 5. Great freekick goal by Sare and he almost scored a second freekick in the 70'. Very probable repeat of the game in the final.
Next tuesday(semifinal): Chile vs Ivory Coast. In the semifinal 2008, Chile won 2:1 to Ivory Coast. It could be a great match again.
Yeah. Chile is definitely the team to beat and up there with France as the best team. Surprisingly Chile is also on top in this tournament. If they beat Cote d'Ivoire it's Chile's third final in a row (winning one and losing the other). That said this should be an even matchup and great game. France in the other semi definitely has it easier.
Chile - Cote d'Ivoire 0:2 Yannick SAGBO 65', Serge Deble 83' Only watched like 5 minutes of the game, but Cote d'Ivoire dominated all I saw. And that was before they scored two goals.
Cote d'Ivoire - Denmark 3:2 Ouedraogo 19', Gerard Bi Goua Gohou 40', Deble 72' - Nicki Bille Nielsen 45', Mortensen 80' Red card Soumahoro 79' for timewasting (2 yellows in 4 minutes)... Despite what the score may suggest it was a one-sided game, which at times looked like it would end with a real mauling. Denmark scored with two lucky breaks,one of those in the dying minutes of the game. Deserved winners, Cote d'Ivoire unlucky not to win 6:2 or something like that. The onslaught on the Danish goal was ridiculous.
