"We have no pressure."Īll was not well for Ronaldo during qualifying "We have enough self-confidence and we know that we have nothing to lose," reassured Hamburg defender Guy Demel. This year, if it can secure second spot in the group, it's very likely European champions Spain will be waiting in the last 16. The draw has again made life difficult for the Ivory Coast, who failed to progress past Argentina and the Netherlands to the second round at their first World Cup in 2006. New coach Sven Goran Eriksson won't have had long to work with the players, but will be confident that the "Elephants," as they are nicknamed, can perform. The Ivorians have a host of top European players, including the Toure brothers Kolo and Yaya, and, leading the way, African Footballer of the Year Didier Drogba. The fact that he's called upon Brazilian-born trio Pepe, Deco and Liedson should add further spice to what already promises to be a feisty colonial battle against Brazil on June 25 - the group stage finale.Īrguably the group's decisive game comes ten days earlier, when Portugal face Ivory Coast in Port Elizabeth. Coach Carlos Quieroz is widely unpopular in his homeland, where expectations are high after their 2006 showing. Portugal limped through its qualifying campaign, eventually progressing via a play-off with Bosnia and Herzegovina. Despite failing to find the net in his seven appearances in qualifying, Ronaldo will carry the goal scoring burden in South Africa. One of the players Grafite surely had in mind was Real Madrid forward, and most expensive footballer on the planet, Cristiano Ronaldo. Drogba will have the bit between his teeth in South Africa
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