GROUP G: IVORY COAST v PORTUGAL:Ivory Coast's manager is hoping national hero Didier Drogba can win his fitness race in time to face Portugal, writes MATT SPIROin Port Elizabeth
FOR A moment, Sven-Goran Eriksson must have feared he had entered a time warp and travelled back four years.
Preparing for his first competitive game as Ivory Coast coach against Portugal this afternoon, the Swede seemed surprised to find himself fielding questions predominantly from English journalists at last night’s press conference in Port Elizabeth.
“Do you want to gain revenge against Portugal?” he was asked with reference to the painful defeats his England side suffered at both Euro 2004 and the 2006 World Cup. “What did you think of Fabio Capello’s England on Saturday?” came the next rather irrelevant question.
Eriksson had, of course, come to the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium to speak about the Ivory Coast’s intriguing Group F meeting with Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal. Sadly, there were no Ivorian journalists present, the torrential rain and strong winds having prevented their plane from arriving in time.
To Eriksson’s credit, he offered patient responses, arguing that England had been “very unlucky” not to beat the US and offering his sympathy to Robert Green. “He’s a good goalkeeper,” he said. “I feel sorry for him. It must be awful.”
Indeed it must. Yet it was clear Eriksson had far more pressing concerns than England’s goalkeeping crisis.
After failed spells with Manchester City, Mexico and Notts County, the 61-year-old is hoping to restore his reputation after agreeing a short-term deal with Ivory Coast in March. It seemed an attractive proposition at the time, and not only because of the seven-figure contract. The Elephants are a highly talented group and have the potential to do well in South Africa.
Unfortunately, no sooner had Eriksson met his players for the first time than his World Cup plans were in tatters. On June 4th, Ivory Coast’s best player, talisman and all-round national treasure suffered a fracture to his forearm in a friendly against Japan in Switzerland.
Didier Drogba was rushed to hospital for an X-ray and returned to the stadium in time to inform his team-mates he would be unable to accompany them to South Africa. “I won’t be there but I have every faith in you guys,” the Chelsea striker announced in the dressingroom.
The poignant moment was captured by a French television crew, and the look of utter resignation on the faces of the Ivorians was deeply revealing. Without their leader, any hopes of progressing from a group that also includes Brazil and North Korea had seemingly disappeared.
It later emerged Drogba, who was successfully operated on the following day, had a chance of participating after all. In fact, according to Eriksson, he may even start today’s match after a miraculous recovery.
“We’re going to make a decision a couple of moments before the game,” the coach said. “He had a very good practise session with the other players on Sunday and he’ll train again tonight. I don’t know if he’ll play but I’m confident he will play some part in the tournament.”
Much will depend on the outcome of the Fifa meeting held last night to determine whether Drogba will be allowed to compete wearing a protective cast on his arm. “We’re waiting to hear,” Eriksson revealed. “We’re keeping our fingers crossed. Didier is a wonderful player and one of the few players in the world who can win a game on his own.”
Eriksson has other useful options. While Drogba finished top scorer in the Premier League with 29 goals last term, Seydou Doumbia bagged 30 for Young Boys in the Swiss top flight and Lille striker Gervinho enjoyed a superb season in France.
Both are in contention to take Drogba’s place alongside Salomon Kalou and Aruna Dindane in a potent-looking attack.
The trouble is Drogba has become more than just a goal machine to the Ivory Coast. He is an icon, a hero in his homeland, and one of the most influential individuals in Africa.
How many other sportsman can claim to have helped restore peace in their country? By requesting that an international against Madagascar be played in Bouake, a northern stronghold occupied by rebel forces, Drogba played a vital role in calming tensions that had been fuelling the civil war.
Should Drogba’s name be absent from the team-sheet today an entire nation will feel dismayed. Midfielder Yaya Toure summed up the situation.
“We need Drogba to play,” the Barcelona player shrugged. “He’s the one guy who is really important to us. If he plays it’ll be nice.” If he doesn’t, Eriksson could be left cursing the Portuguese again.
