The 2014 World Cup is the third consecutive finals that the Ivory Coast have qualified for and offers the ‘Golden Generation’ of players such as Didier Drogba once last chance to shine after their two previous World Cups ended prematurely.
Les Elephants’ two previous World Cup appearances ended in disappointment after being drawn in arguably the toughest groups in both 2006 and 2010.
Their 2006 World Cup campaign saw them drawn with a pair of footballing giants in Argentina and Netherlands as well as Serbia and Montenegro.
They opened up against a strong Argentina side and by half time they found themselves two goals down but they held firm in the second half and it was up to Didier Drogba to score his country’s first ever World Cup goal in the closing minutes as the game finished 2-1 to the South Americans.
A week later it was a case of deja-vu as the Netherlands scored two quick goals, including a powerful Robin Van Persie free kick, before half an hour had been played. However this time the Africans hit back before the break with a wonderful solo effort from the diminutive Bakari Kone. The second half was scoreless and it spelled elimination for Henri Michel’s side.
In their final game against a poor Serbia and Montenegro, once again the side found themselves two goals down, this time within twenty minutes, before mounting an incredible comeback after a brace from Aruna Dindane and Bonaventure Kalou’s late penalty to seal an entertaining 3-2 victory to end the tournament on a high and finish third in the group.
The side did what was expected of them and bowed out of the tournament with a creditable performance.
The 2010 World Cup in South Africa saw expectations raised as they came in as the most highly rated African side in the first World Cup on African soil.
They also pulled off a coup in appointing former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson, however fate had once more put the side in the toughest of groups, this time paired with Brazil, Portugal and North Korea.
The opening game against Portugal finished goalless, a highly credible result against a side with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo in their ranks. A short five days later they came up short against the Brazilians, only a late Drogba goal put any semblance of respectability to the scoreline as it finished 3-1.
With the side highly unlikely to qualify once again unless Portugal suffered a crushing defeat against Brazil, they came up against group minnows North Korea and produced a professional, if not totally inspiring display.
Early goals from Yaya Toure and Romaric put the Elephants in command before Salomon Kalou added a third late on to ensure the side finished third in the group stage once more. They came closer to qualifying than 4 years previously but were still one point adrift of second place Portugal and once more bowed out at the first hurdle.
They have twice been drawn in the toughest groups of the tournament and they did what was expected; if they had qualified from either group it would have been sensational but most importantly a number of the players are returning for their third, and most likely final, World Cup.
They will be able to call upon their wealth of experience of two group stage exits to ensure a better outcome this time round in Brazil and bow out on a high.
