Match 13: Cote d'Ivoire x Portugal Post-Match Thread

argentina wasn't impressive?

 

Ferreira. OUT NOW.

 

The FIFA rankings aren't always proof of a side's quality. I don't know what it is now but CIV at one pt wasn't even the highest FIFA ranked team in Africa when they clearly are the best. I take them with a grain of salt.

 

Definitely, this was a tactical play from Ericson. Not allowing exposure to a physical game, but launching him in a latter stage as a final weapon.

 

Haha, this is so true. Most of IV dangerous attacks came from Paulo Ferreira's side. Drogba's cross in the last minute emphasizing how clueless this player is...

I also don't understand why Hugo Almeida wasn't subbed in for Liedson.

We can only blame Carlos Queiroz for this.

 

Yes I agree. FIFA has Portugal #3 Untill this match.

 

I don't blame him. I'm not happy with the way Portugal played either. Ivory Coast deserved to win the game.

As far as FIFA rankings go, I find them meaningless. In My opinion, the rankings shouldn't mean anything to anyone during this competition.

 

ya they would've probably lost, Drogba was standing still might as well have put in a orange post in the ground, with Drogba they were essentially down to 10 men...the player subed out was very mobile and creating problems for Portugal...

 

CdI can pose bigger problems to Brazil for several reasons. One is the lack of a solid left back in Brazil. Coentrao is better than Bastos. CdI has solid options to attack on the left.

The other is the speed through the middle. Gilberto and Melo are both fast and can accelerate like a Ferrari, but they lack in one thing: quick turning. That was obvious during the South American quals (they sometimes call it "response").

Players like Toure and Gervinho are fast at turning with the ball. So they can dribble their way around them if they can trick them with a fast move.

All in all, I think Brazil is beatable, but it requires following a plan to perfection. Paraguay did it, in a great game. CdI cannot tackle so loosely that there's no one to pick up the ball after the tackle. That can prove lethal against Brazil. Watch the game Italy-Paraguay and see the tackles there: always, someone is already positioned right to receive the ball, so it doesn't go back to the other team.

 

it was extremely stupid, time was up the ref was going to allow the corner and that was all, wasted opportunity...

 

No one worked any magic. These are two teams with great reputations, and we end up with this. I think the goalies can still return their gloves to the store for a full refund because they were unused.

 

No. Every time Nigeria attacked, Argentina looked vulberable. And winning 1-0 against a team is known to be much weaker than at first expected is no big accomplishment.

I hope the defending gets sorted out, because otherwise it's R16 and out.

 

I'm still puzzled by Sven's substitution for Drogba. If I were him, I would have had Dindane come off the pitch for Drogba. Rick James, Gervinho should have remained on the pitch for the entire game.

 

The Ivory Coast have had terrible luck with the draw twice in a row now, having had a tough draw last time around in '06 as well. What's more, the fact that their second match is against Brazil does not favor them either. Which is sad, since while I like Portugal, I prefer the Ivory Coast to be the other team to advance from this group. A preference solidified by today's match, where I felt they were better than Portugal.

The tactically wise thing for the Ivory Coast is to play it safe against Brazil and make sure they don't lose. If Brazil win their match against the Ivory Coast, they will probably rest their starters and take their game against Portugal lightly. But if the Ivory Coast manage a draw against Brazil, they can have 5 points after their last game against N.Korea. That would mean that neither Brazil nor Portugal for that matter would be assured of advancing with a draw in their last game since they won't know the score between Ivory Coast and N.Korea, forcing both to try to take 3 points from their last game.

 

What I didn't get is why Portugal didn't even try any more patient buildup plays. They have the tecnical quality to pull it off and, like I said, were far more dangerous in front of goal when they actually got there. Maybe the CIV midfield was too physically strong but it seemed like, from the half forward, that Portugal was a collection of individuals. No one was approximating himself to the man on the ball to create options. More often than not, Lliedson was completely isolated.

 

CDI will play for the draw with Brazil, hope to have 2 pts and then hammer the NKoreans in case Portugal also plays to a draw with Brazil then it will come down to goals...there is the possibility of a 3 teams all at 5 pts and the it could be a competion to see who can score the most on NK...

 

People always make this argument when we have 6 points going into the last group game. It fundamentally misunderstands the Brazilian mentality. True, we might try some "experiments" in such a game, but we'd never take it lightly. First, because the egos are so colossal as to not permit it. We want 9 points. Second, because the Brazilian media would seize upon a loss and ratchet up the pressure. The stress from this would far outweigh any benefit from additional rest. If any regular starters don't play, it will be because they are injured OR have yellow cards.

 

It's true. They didn't play as a team and were very slow, allowing CIV players to anticipate them many times. A good midfield is crucial in a team like Portugal, it is it's spine.

 

Drogba did nothing. Overrated at this point. it is clear Ronaldo needs someone to compliment him, he looks frustrated like a little boy. But good test for ivory Coast, they played for the tie. Portugal needs to be better if they want to make an impact.

Go Ivory Coast!

 

Yes, and why take Kalou of all ppl off when you put Drogba in? They play together often with Chelsea. It should have been a straight sub for Dindane and Gervinho certainly should not have come off.

 

Personally I think this result was huge for Ivory Coast. They had to have been demoralized by Drogba's injury, even with him somehow finding the strength and determination to go Jack Youngblood (look him up if you don't know the story) and remind Ronaldo what a man is (i'll grant the irony considering Drogba could certainly make an Ivory Coast Olympic Diving Team as well). Portugal was in prime position to take advantage of getting Ivory Coast first in the schedule. Instead, they played cynical and took no advantage from that gift. While Drogba won't be healthy all tournament, I'm sure he would have been in better position to help for games played on June 20th, and in the final group play game (I guess the 24th or 25th?), but Portugal appeared satisfied to get out of the game w/simply GD/TG advantages to determine whether they can move on or not. Kind of crazy to me.

As for Ivory Coast. They really have to feel good, they lost their captain and leader, and made it irrelevant, and even had their chances to win. They can build on this, the key will be to take Portugal's example against Brazil to keep the GD friendly, and then try to obliterate a North Korean side that played exceptionally well in AFC qualifying.

One last note. I had a healthy debate with an anti-diving poster in another world cup thread the last few weeks and this reminded me of how both he and I are right. My argument that until the refs start actually punishing players consistently and very harshly for diving, it makes no sense to play honorably (because as Portugal showed, playing honorably gives you no advantages, and gave Portugal 3 very good chances to have won by cheating, something that has happened repeatedly at world cups-i only need 2 seconds to immediately recall how Ghana, and Italy cheated the US and Australia 4 years ago and got no come uppance for it, there was no evening it out) because teams that play honorably get screwed, or at best become very much at risk to getting screwed.

However, watching Ronaldo's act, 3 dives, 2 blatant, and the one that resulted in the shoving match actually involved a preemtptive dive by Ronaldo (if you look closely, Ronaldo starts going to ground a split half second before he runs into contact with the Ivory Coast player) was infuriating. What Fifa really needs to do, because it's impossible to do this w/so few officials and no instant replay, is to seriously commit to post-game reviews, and if players engage in any diving, they get an automatic yellow card, and a red card suspension if they engage in repeated diving (particularly in the box). It really seems like its the only way to eradicate this from the game. There doesnt seem like any means by which it can be ridded from the game. I know its a pipe dream, but honestly, we need something to address this problem. Hopefully when Blatter dies and is replaced (he seems as locked in place as Fidel Castro and Qaddafi were/are) maybe action will finally be taken.

We'll see what happens w/the group, to me, this group will now turn on Brazil-Ivory Coast, as Portugal should be able to keep it close, while Ivory Coast? Ivory Coast could get sloppy and give up a ton of goals, but they could also exploit some holes in Brazil's defense too. Ivory Coast needs to keep it close, to contend effectively with Portugal. I think Portugal has the advantage in terms of keeping quality GD/TG tiebreakers in their mutual Brazil matches, but I think Ivory Coast has the advantage in terms of exploiting the weaknesses of N. Korea. Suffice it to say, the final two games in the group should be great.

 

I can understand taking Gervinho out. But subbing in The Drog for Kalou was weird.

 

If it comes down to goal diff, "trying some experiments" may be enough to get Portugal through and not CdI.

 

No but his argument is sound. Whatever Brazil's assumed mentality going into the final game on 6 would be, CIV must get the draw to force both teams to play for three in the final. That is the strategy coming from CIV's pov.

 

That, right there, pissed me off more than anything. I've always hated CRonaldos character, but that doesn't take anything away from his talent. Such a pity that a person with such tremendous skill has to pull tricks like this. I was hoping that he would be a star player in this tournament, hushing up the haters but I guess that should teach me a lesson in having even some enthusiasm for fair play.

I've never been so upset about a game before. I'm more upset with the team than in 2004 finals. Way more.