Powerhouse Portugal start their 2010 World Cup campaign, Tuesday June 15, against West Africans Cote d’Ivoire, at Port Elizabeth Stadium in Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth. The West Africans will be out to prove that their growing continental reputation is merited. World Cup oddsmakers at BODOG.com have Portugal as +110 moneyline favorites over Cote d’Ivoire (+240) with a DRAW at (+225) . Be sure to get your Cote d’Ivoire vs Portugal 2010 FIFA World Cup Group G Odds in now at BODOG.com
Cote d’Ivoire still don’t know if Dider Drogba will play or not after breaking his arm. 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 . Kolo Toure has been given the captaincy, in place of Drogba. The Manchester City centre-back Toure is set to come up against a familiar old foe. Cristiano Ronaldo, the former Old Trafford favorite, enjoyed some epic battles with the Ivorian during his time in the English Premier League. The in-form Real Madrid maestro, upon whose shoulders rest the hopes of an entire nation, will doubtless look to use those past experiences to gain an edge. Appointed in March of this year, Sven-Goran Eriksson will take charge of the Elephants in a competitive match for the first time against Portugal. It was the former England coach’s previous experience in the FIFA World Cup – reaching the quarter-finals in both 2002 and 2006 – that won him the job, and if the reaction of his players is anything to go by, he has already made a considerable impact.
“Eriksson has put an added emphasis on playing as a team and not just as a collection of individuals. He has managed to change the mindset of the squad and of each player. We’ve always had good players, but have never been able to properly work together as an effective unit, defending and attacking as one,” Kolo Toure, Côte d’Ivoire defender
Portugal has been dogged by inconsistency after the 2006 semi-finalists were forced to qualify via a play-off, but they’ll look to replicate the good form they showed in their pre-event friendly matches. Parts of their Cup qualifying woes were due to Ronaldo’s off-season surgery, but he’s ready to go know. They will rely on talisman Cristiano Ronaldo to get them off to the best possible start in what many regard as the toughest group of all . Deprived of the injured Nani, Carlos Queiroz’s men will need to rediscover that form if they have serious pretensions of emulating here in South Africa their achievements of four years ago in Germany.
“Winning this game would make things much easier for us in terms of progressing in the competition. I want to be on top form so as to be recognised as the tournament’s best player, and to help the team to move forward,” Cristiano Ronaldo,
Portuguese forward.
Cote d’Ivoire vs Portugal
When: Tuesday, June 15 – 10:00 AM ET
Line: BODOG.com
Pick: Portugal +110
Point-Spreads.com Cote d’Ivoire vs Portugal 2010 FIFA World Cup Group G Odds
The Bottom Line: Portugal must come out hard to prove themselves worthy, but d’Ivoire has a nation on their side. Be sure to get your Cote d’Ivoire vs Portugal 2010 FIFA World Cup Group G Odds in now at BODOG.com and receive a 10% deposit bonus .
