The Ivory Coast are in Group G at the World Cup and will play Portugal, Brazil and North Korea. This is the Ivory Coast squad which I believe has the best chance of success in South Africa.
First 11
GK. Boubacar Barry, Club- KSC Lorkerren (Belgium), Age at World Cup (AWC) 30.
RB. Emmanuel Eboue, Club- Arsenal, (AWC) 27.
CB. Igor Lolo, Club- AS Monaco, (AWC) 27.
CB. Kolo Toure, Club- Manchester City, (AWC) 29.
LWB. Arthur Boka, Club- VFB Stuttgart, (AWC) 27.
CDM. Yaya Toure, Club- Barcelona, (AWC) 27.
CDM. Didier Zokora, Club- Sevilla FC, (AWC) 29.
RW. Didier Konan Ya, Club- Hannover 96, (AWC) 26.
LW. Salomon Kalou, Club- Chelsea, (AWC) 24.
ST. Didier Drogba, Club- Chelsea, (AWC) 32.
ST. Arouna Kone, Club- Sevilla FC, (AWC) 26.
Subs
GK. Aristide Benoit Zogbo, Club- Maccabi Netanya (Israel), (AWC) 28.
GK. Stephan Loboue, Club- Greuther Furth (Bundesliga 2nd Div), (AWC) 28.
RB. Guy Demel, Club- Hamburger SV, (AWC) 28.
CB. Abdoulaye Meite, Club- West Bromwich Albion (Championship), (AWC) 29.
CB. Marco Zoro, Club- Vitoria FC (Portugal), (AWC) 26.
LB. Constant Djakpa, Club- Hannover 96, (AWC) 23.
CDM. Siaka Tiene, Club- Valenciennes FC (France), (AWC) 28.
CM. Emerse Fae, Club- OGC Nice, (AWC) 26.
LM. Christian Manfredini, Club- Lazio, (AWC) 35.
RW. Abdul-Kader Keita, Club- Galatasaray, (AWC) 28.
ST. Gervinho, Club- Lille OSC, (AWC) 23.
ST. Aruna Dindane, Club- Portsmouth, (AWC) 29.
Agree with my selections?
Have I included someone who doesn't warrant selection?
Have I missed anybody who should be included?
The Coach
The Ivory Coast are coached by Bosnian Vahid Halihodzic, he has previously managed club sides in Europe and Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad. The Ivory Coast are the first national team he has managed. Halihodzic likes to inspire a strong work ethic in the team he coaches however since being in charge of charge of the Ivory Coast some of his tactical decisions have been questioned.
Ivory Coast's Strengths
Of the five African teams competing at the World Cup the Ivory Coast appear to be the strongest in both the quality and depth of their squad with all of their players playing across the various leagues of Europe.
Ivory Coast's Weakness
Although all of the Ivory Coast's players play in Europe less then half a dozen of them play with clubs that you would call the giants of European football and in the end this could be the difference between the Ivory Coast in getting to the quarter-finals or semi-finals of the World Cup and winning the World Cup.
