COLOMBIA vs. IVORY COAST
Date: June 19, 2014
Time: 12:00 p.m. EDT
Venue: Estadio Nacional, Brasilia
Overall Head-to-Head Record (W-L-T): N/A
Last Match: N/A
Line: Colombia +105
Group C Preview here.
Starting Lineups posted separately once they're announced.
Team Profiles
World Ranking: Colombia (8th), Ivory Coast (23rd)
Managers: Jose Pekerman (COL), Sabri Lamouchi (CIV)
Captains: Mario Yepes (COL), Didier Drogba (CIV)
World Cup Appearances: 5 (COL), 3 (CIV)
Best Finish: Colombia (Round of 16, 1990), Ivory Coast (Group Stage, Last in 2010)
Qualifying Records: Colombia (9-4-3, GF: 27, GA: 13), Ivory Coast (5-0-3, GF: 19, GA: 7)
Previous Game Results
Colombia
Ivory Coast
June 14th - Ivory Coast def. Japan 2-1
Rosters
Injuries/Discipline
Colombia: Carlos Bacca (Out - Leg), Carlos Sanchez (Yellow Card)
Ivory Coast: Sol Bamba (Yellow Card), Didier Zokora (Yellow Card)
Overview
It's the first ever meeting between Colombia and Ivory Coast with first place in Group C on the line as they square off in Brasilia.
Colombia looked very sharp in their opening blowout of Greece while Ivory Coast were slow out of he gate, only buoyed by Didier Drogba's second-half substitution against Japan. Ivory Coast will need a much stronger start in this game against a complete Colombian squad.
Colombia exploited Greece offensively with their speed and pressure on the wings and will look to do the same against Ivory Coast. While Ivory Coast have more athleticism in the back then Greece does, they're prone to mental lapses and Colombia's through balls and lobs in to the penalty area should bring them a multitude of scoring chances in this game.
Both Ivory Coast goals against Japan came off of crosses from the right wing and the African side will be looking to Serge Aurier to deliver some more assists from that area of the field. The Ivorians will have to contend with a tall and organized Colombian back line to meet them though.
Little in the way of personnel decisions for Colombia who are only without backup striker Carlos Bacca. Ivory Coast will have to decide if they want to risk playing the 36 year old Drogba for 90 minutes or if they will again bring him on as a substitute if necessary.
Personnel
In the Colombian Third: For Ivory Coast this will be all about the battle of their tall forwards against Cristian Zapata and Mario Yepes. This was a clear height advantage for Ivory Coast against Japan and one they took advantage of but they don't have the same luxury in this game. Zapata and Yepes don't move as well as the Japanese did though so Ivory Coast can use their speed and size to get in to heading position. Advantage: Ivory Coast.
In the Midfield: Colombia absolutely shredded the vaunted Greek defence in this part of the field while Ivory Coast turned the ball over under the slightest Japanese pressure. Advantage: Colombia
In the Ivorian Third: Colombia were great in possession and used a lot of through balls and one-touch passes to carve through the Greek back line. Ivory Coast are big on the back line but don't have the same positional awareness and should struggle with the Colombian speed and passing. Advantage: Colombia
Goalkeeping: Boubacar Barry was unconvincing in the first game for Ivory Coast. Absolutely refused to come out of his net to challenge high balls in his area which is not going to work at this level. Ospina made a pair of diving saves in his clean sheet win and has the better pedigree to boot. Advantage: Colombia
In the Colombian Third: For Ivory Coast this will be all about the battle of their tall forwards against Cristian Zapata and Mario Yepes. This was a clear height advantage for Ivory Coast against Japan and one they took advantage of but they don't have the same luxury in this game. Zapata and Yepes don't move as well as the Japanese did though so Ivory Coast can use their speed and size to get in to heading position. Advantage: Ivory Coast.
In the Midfield: Colombia absolutely shredded the vaunted Greek defence in this part of the field while Ivory Coast turned the ball over under the slightest Japanese pressure. Advantage: Colombia
In the Ivorian Third: Colombia were great in possession and used a lot of through balls and one-touch passes to carve through the Greek back line. Ivory Coast are big on the back line but don't have the same positional awareness and should struggle with the Colombian speed and passing. Advantage: Colombia
Goalkeeping: Boubacar Barry was unconvincing in the first game for Ivory Coast. Absolutely refused to come out of his net to challenge high balls in his area which is not going to work at this level. Ospina made a pair of diving saves in his clean sheet win and has the better pedigree to boot. Advantage: Colombia
Colombia will win if:
Exploit the high pressure of the Ivorian wing backs and get a body on everyone in your own penalty area. Japan lost track of players in their own area twice in the game and they got burned by goals on both plays. Ivory Coast aren't likely to dribble the ball through the Colombian lines but if there's a free man on a cross, the ball will find the back of the Colombian net. Ivory Coast push up very high on the wings and Colombia have the speed and long ball skills to torch them over the top when Ivory Coast turn the ball over. Get the ball in midfield and look for the long breakaway.
Ivory Coast will win if:
They can better control the middle of the field without pushing their wing backs in to the offensive third. Ivory Coast had nothing doing in the centre of the field against Japan. Part of that appeared to be a hobbling Yaya Toure but mostly that they simply got comfortable on the wings. Colombia have a ton of speed outside and will challenge the Ivorians rather then collapse in to their area. Have to be able to work the ball through the central midfield. Doing so will allow their wing backs to hang back a bit and less expose the Ivory Coast to quick counter-attacks.
Too much talent up front for Ivory Coast not to score but Colombia's speed and passing is too much for them to deal with. Going with 2-1, but 3-1 or even 3-2 wouldn't surprise.
Colombia 2-1 Ivory Coast
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