Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast in English) is South Africa’s best hope for a World Cup, June 11. This is their second appearance in a World Cup after failing to get out of Group Stages in Germany 2006. World Cup oddsmakers at BODOG.com have Cote d’Ivoire listed as 50/1 odds underdogs to win FIFA World Cup 2010 . Be sure to get your World Cup Predictions in at BODOG.com . Here is your FIFA World Cup 2010 Odds: Cote d’Ivoire Preview
Cote d’Ivoire is chalked with talent, but they might be without superstar Didier Drogba. Drogba fractured a forearm in a friendly against Japan, June 4. Ivorian spokesman Ouattara Hegaud said, June 7, that no decision has yet been taken on 32-year-old Drogba's fitness for the 2010 FIFA World Cup . Under FIFA rules, a replacement can be drafted in until the day before a team's first game on 15 June against Portugal. Côte d'Ivoire will play in Group G, where they will also face Brazil and Korea DPR.
Côte d'Ivoire strode through qualifying without losing a match, running away with their final qualifying group ahead of Burkina Faso, Malawi and Guinea. Drogba was top scorer for Les Elephants, with six goals in five matches. They feature other top-drawer talent throughout their side, with the Chelsea star Salomon Kalou a formidable up front. Sevilla's Didier Zokora and Barcelona's Yaya Toure provide bite in midfield alongside Marseille's diminutive Bakary Kone, while the England-based pair of Emmanuel Eboue and Kolo Toure combine with Stuttgart's Arthur Boka to form one of the best defences in Africa.
South Africa 2010 will be Sevn-Goran Eriksson's third FIFA World Cup after leading England to the quarter-finals at both the 2002 and 2006 finals. He had an unsuccessful stint with Mexico in the first half of qualifying for 2010, but he was sacked after less than a year. He is a vastly experienced club coach, having led Gothenburg to the UEFA Cup in 1982, and leading teams in Portugal, England and Italy.
Point-Spreads.com FIFA World Cup 2010 Odds: Cote d’Ivoire Preview
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