Like Scotland, ‘Les Elephants’ are getting ready to return to the World Cup after a hiatus – of their case since 2014.
Qualification was secured in some fashion, unbeaten with out conceding a purpose, although they needed to wait till the ultimate group recreation in opposition to Kenya to verify their place at soccer’s prime desk with a 3-0 win to complete some extent forward of Gabon.
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Since then they didn’t efficiently defend their African Cup of Nations crown, dropping to Egypt within the quarter-final earlier this yr, however there was little signal of a hangover from that disappointment after they brushed South Korea apart on Saturday, although the 4-0 scoreline appeared to flatter them.
What was notable from that recreation – other than one more clear sheet – was that there have been 4 totally different scorers – a pattern that continues from their qualification marketing campaign when their prime scorer, Seko Fofana, notched simply three however no fewer than eight gamers scored two, with six extra grabbing one.
So there are objectives from throughout this workforce. Add that to a miserly defence and you’ve got a fairly good recipe for achievement and they’ll hope, once more like Scotland, that they will progress past the group stage for the primary time this summer time.
Extra instantly, Ivory Coast, one place above Scotland within the official Fifa rankings, will present a stern pleasant check for Steve Clarke’s aspect on Tuesday.
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In opposition to South Korea, supervisor Emerse Fae performed a mix of normal first-choice starters and some gamers attempting to stake their declare for a beginning berth after they line up in opposition to Ecuador in Philadelphia on the identical day Scotland play Haiti.
It’ll doubtless be an analogous strategy in opposition to Scotland. Franck Kessie, the vastly skilled captain was unused in opposition to the Koreans so might be in line to start out, maybe alongside Nottingham Forest’s Ibrahim Sangare, who got here on in Saturday’s recreation.
Sangare is one in all quite a few gamers who will probably be acquainted to followers of the English Premier League – one other being Amad Diallo of Manchester United and a former Rangers loanee. His cameo on Saturday included an help for fellow substitute Wilfried Songo to information residence the fourth purpose and he will probably be a harmful opponent for Andy Robertson or Kieran Tierney on the Ivory Coast’s proper flank.
Supervisor Fae, a former worldwide midfielder himself, has a wealth of attacking choices, although teenage sensation Yan Diomande of RB Leipzig is unavailable via damage.
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Fae’s ascent to his present place was a barely weird one. He was appointed as interim supervisor after an unimpressive displaying from the workforce within the group stage of the 2023 AFCON, hosted by the Ivory Coast.
Though they certified for the latter levels as among the best third-placed groups, Jean-Louis Gasset was dismissed mid-tournament and assistant Fae was promoted.
The remainder is historical past as he guided them to a 3rd success within the event and adopted it up by clinching World Cup qualification for the primary time in 12 years.
Now, if he can get them via a bunch that features Germany and Curacao in addition to Ecuador, he will certainly be a folks hero in his homeland.