Ivory Coast’s golden generation hope for last hurrah

Africa’s best hope of winning the World Cup this year is the Ivory Coast, who are priced at 125/1, and it seems that for many of their ‘golden generation’ of players this will be their last chance to impress.

The Elephants face a fairly favourable group (C), featuring the Colombia, Japan and Greece, and are priced as joint-second favourites with the Asian nation, both to top their pool at 4/1, and qualify to the knockout stages at evens.

Despite boasting a fantastic current crop of players, this will only be the Ivorians’ third appearance at the World Cup finals, all in a row, and have never made it past the first hurdle. Take odds of 7/4 if you fancy them to go one stage further and exit in the last 16, or 13/2 to bow out in the quarters.

They have had no luck in their previous tournaments, after been placed in ‘group of deaths’ with Brazil, Portugal and minnows North Korea in 2010, and Argentina, the Netherlands and Serbia and Montenegro in 2006.

This year’s draw gives Ivory Coast icons such as national captain Didier Drogba (Galatasaray) and the Toure brothers, Yaya (Manchester City) and Kolo (Liverpool), the perfect opportunity to prove to the world that their talent on the big stage has not been wasted.

Although that trio, as well as likes of the versatile Didier Zakora (Trabzonspor), left backs Siaka Tiene (Montpellier) and Arthur Boka (Stuttgart), as well as midfielder Romaric (Bastia), are now in their thirties, they still possess the quality apt for the World Cup.

It’s debatable to say whether a new wave of talent to match the likes of Drogba and Yaya are coming through. However, emerging young right back Serge Aurier (Toulouse) will compliment mid-20s players such as midfielder destroyer Cheick Tiote (Newcastle United), former Arsenal attacker Gervinho (now Roma) and forwards Wilfried Bony (Swansea) and Seydou Doumbia (CSKA Moscow).

Ivory Coast have never had a top-quality goalkeeper and, although it is the weak spot of the team, they currently have Boubacar ‘Copa’ Barry – who plays for Belgian Pro League outfit Lokeren – in net. The 34-year-old, who has gained 75 caps for his country and played at the last two World Cups, will undoubtedly be head coach Sabri Lamouchi’s first choice between the sticks.