NELSPRUIT, South Africa - When Ivory Coast's name was pulled out of theWorld Cup group draw alongside Brazil and Portugal in December, the team wasentitled to think luck wasn't on its side.In the team's only other appearance at the finals, in 2006, it was alsoplaced in a nightmare group, losing to Argentina and Netherlands before comingfrom two goals behind to beat Serbia and Montenegro in its l
By CHRIS ALTRUDA STATS Editor=It's hard enough to get a victory in the World Cup.The Ivory Coast, though, must come through with a historically lopsided one over North Korea on Friday at Nelspruit and get help to have any chance of advancing out of Group G and into the knockout round.The Ivorians have just one point through two matches following a scoreless draw with Portugal on June 15 followed
Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba is still suffering from the effects of the broken elbow sustained before the World Cup, says defender Souleymane Bamba.The Chelsea forward broke his elbow in a friendly with Japan a week before the finals kicked off and has been playing with a cast on his injured arm. We can tell he is still not 100% fit, said Hibernian defender Bamba. Didier is our captain and
SAANEN, Switzerland - Didier Drogba has rejoined his Ivory Coast teammatesat their Alpine training camp in Switzerland with a cast protecting his brokenright arm.Team spokesman Eric Kacou said Monday that it's not known when Drogba canresume training after the squad arrives in South Africa on Thursday, or if hewill play at the World Cup. FIFA rules allow Ivory Coast to wait until next Monday -
SION, SWITZERLAND - Didier Drogba told teammate Kolo Toure that he will miss the World Cup after breaking his right arm Friday in a warmup match.'For him, he said, the World Cup is finished,' Toure said. The 32-year-old Drogba was taken off 15 minutes into Ivory Coast's 2-0 win over Japan after a high challenge by Japan defender Marcus Tulio Tanaka.He was then rushed to a hospital.'We can just
SION, Switzerland - Ivory Coast captain Didier Drogba broke his right armFriday during a 2-0 win against Japan in a warmup for the World Cup on Friday.Drogba limped off after a high 15th-minute challenge by Japan defenderMarcus Tulio Tanaka.The Chelsea star could miss the tournament. 'It's an elbow injury, for sure.How bad it is, I don't know.He had a lotof pain,' coach Sven Goran-Eriksson said
Ivory Coast captain Didier Drogba's participation in the World Cup is in serious doubt after he suffered a fractured elbow in a friendly.The Chelsea striker, 32, picked up the injury 16 minutes into the game after clashing with Japan defender Marcus Tulio Tanaka. It's a fracture in his arm.The doctor hasn't said yet whether he can play in the World Cup, said a team spokesman.Ivory Coast kick off