IVORY COAST.

Nickname: Les Elephants ( The Elephants). 

Personal nickname: Fullbacks nightmare. 

Head Coach:  Emerse Faé. The miracle man who took over during the Afcon in 2023 and won the tournament. He is the first Ivorian coach to qualify Ivory Coast for the world Cup. 

Group E:( Germany, Ecuador and Curacao). 

World rankings: 34th.

Opening match: Ecuador. 

Formation: 4:3:3. They would not drift from this formation. It will be attacking, relying on width and very fearless. 

Pattern of play: Explosive wing play will be expected. They will be on the front foot. The fullbacks will definitely overlap. Out of possession they will be intense and press as a unit. 

Best world Cup finish: They have never made the knockout stages in three attempts (2006, 2010,2014). The group stage is their best finish. 

Team Captain: Franck Kessié

Oddity: When Ivory Coast qualified for their first 2006 World Cup, it ended a five year civil war. Drogba's appeal to both warring faction after the qualification on the pitch led to a ceasefire. Football just being a tool for unity again. 

Best world cup moment: Drogba's goal against Argentina is their best till date. It was Ivory Coast first World Cup goal and served as a major symbol of unity for the Ivorians. 

Worse World Cup moment: In 2014 Ivory Coast was seconds away from making a first ever knockout stage. They only needed a draw against Greece in the final match. In the 93rd minute a brain dead challenge by Giovanni Sio handed Greece a penalty. Giorgos Samaras duly converted, leading to a 2:1 win for Greece and heartbreak for Ivory Coast. 

Players to watch:

Main man:

Yan Diomandé: The Leipzig man is currently one of the most wanted wingers on the planet. He is a previous Bundesliga rookie of the year winner and currently coveted by PSG, Liverpool and many others. A direct winger who runs at the defender. I believe his stocks rises even further this tournament. 

Amad Diallo: The United man is a talent. Not much needs to be said about him. He seems to play even better for his national team. I expect him to continue his good form. 

Ange-Yoan Bony: The inter man will make his tournament debut for the Ivorians. He represented France at youth level but has made the switch to Ivory Coast. He is a physical specimen whose hold up play and intelligence will be vital. Another player that I expect his stocks to rise this tournament. 

Expectations: With the new expanded format and a very favourable group a first ever knockout game is to be expected at the minimum. 

My predictions: They have three frightening forwards as we have just considered. I expect a knockout place at the minimum. They have all the ingredients to do well and I expect them to. They fall in the round of 32 and nothing less