With the Ivory Coast expected to run away with tonight’s encounter, all eyes will be on veteran Mario Yepes, who will be expected to play a massive part in keeping them under wraps. This will be his 100th cap for his country, but even on an occasion as tense as this, coach Jose Pekerman knows he can count on his captain to keep Colombian nerves from going to pieces. “Calm” has been his watchword from the get-go, and nowhere was that more evident than in the 3-0 destruction of Greece.
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Pekerman will be expecting a vastly different kind of test this evening, with the Ivory Coast posing a different kind of threat than the sluggish Greeks, who just didn’t do enough in their Group C opener. The Ivory Coast will be much more potent up front, while possibly lacking the defending discipline of Greece, with a potentially lethal trio of Gervinho, Wilfried Bony and world renowned ex-Chelsea striking legend, Didier Drogba. This triple threat will most certainly keep Colombia’s back line busy throughout the entire game and this was echoed in Pekerman’s words: “They [Ivory Coast] are one of the strongest teams in Africa. They’ve played in several World Cups, they have experienced players and good individual talent. They know what it means to be at a World Cup and what is required. The game against Greece was very intense and we have some injuries so I will have to see what to do with the team.”
Yepes is captaining a side that is relatively inexperienced, with a lot of young heads present in the dressing room. Pekerman doesn’t show any concern however, saying he was pleased with what they had achieved against Greece, having fulfilled all of their pre-game objectives. He said “When we were preparing for our first game we considered several psychological aspects. We wanted to keep our concentration but also play in an inspired way with good technique. And to keep calm while doing it. We definitely achieved those objectives.”
On the part of the Ivory Coast, currently lying second in Group C, they can boast a forward three and indeed a full lineup capable of throwing everything forward within a matter of seconds as proved against Japan when they scored twice inside two minutes. Colombia will need to control that capability by slowing the ball down and using a short passing game in amongst the midfield. The Elephants are capable of lightning fast counter attacks, so Pekerman’s men will need to be ready to drop deep at any moment during what the potential to be a real back and forth, box to box game.
Yaya Toure will more than likely be in majestic, stampeding form tonight, so the Colombians will have the torrid task of keeping him quiet. He likes to charge out of the box and run directly at the defence like a freight train, with the Ivory Coast running their entire attack through him. Stopping Toure however, will prove difficult as that will mean making the Ivory Coast play with bodies behind the ball, generally achieved by playing a pressing, possession game with a deep-lying defence. This could easily lead to the Ivory Coast regaining possession and overrunning the midfield, pressing forward in numbers and really testing the Colombian defence.
