World Cup Team Checks: Ivory Coast

World Cup Qualifiers

In their quest for Germany, the Ivory Coast cast off, among others, Cameroon's Indomitable Lions in an aggressive series of four wins and just one loss during qualification, putting the west African nation into the World Cup annals for the first time.

Stars

Didier Drogba is the team's star. The Chelsea striker found the back of the net nine times and, together with Aruna Dindane, was part of the African zone's most effective goal-scoring duo.

Trainer

The Ivory Coast has an experienced Henri Michel at the helm. The former French national team trainer is making a World Cup appearance with his fourth team, having already brought France, Cameroon and Tunisia to the finals.

World Cup History

Germany 2006 marks the Ivory Coast's first World Cup finals appearance.

Match Schedule: Preliminary Round

June 10: Argentina - Ivory Coast in Hamburg

June 16: Netherlands - Ivory Coast in Stuttgart

June 21: Ivory Coast - Serbia and Montenegro in Munich

World Cup Base

The Hotel Clostermanns Hof, near the cities of Bonn and Cologne, will host the Ivory Coast national team during the World Cup.

Outlook

FIFA didn't do the Ivory Coast any favors for their first finals appearance during the group drawing, placing them in an extremely difficult group. The newcomers, however, did have a chance to fill up on self-confidence during the African Cup of Nations, where they advanced to the finals and were the only one of the five African teams going to the World Cup to do so. Though they lost to Egypt in a 4:2 penalty shoot-out, the Ivory Coast gave their World Cup opponents plenty of reason to take them seriously.