Cote d’Ivoire

Les Elephants look to bounce back from disappointing Africa Cup of Nations campaign.

Côte d’Ivoire flag
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Didier Zokora has been picked for his second World Cup after 10 years with the team [GALLO/GETTY]

Think Cote d’Ivoire, think Didier Drogba. The newly-crowned English Premier League champion and top-scorer is a striker of terrifying strength, finishing ability and nous.

New boss Sven-Goran Eriksson was with England at the last two World Cups and will hope to transform a faltering collection of talented individuals into a winning team.

Their front line also includes Drogba’s Chelsea teammate Salomon Kalou and Lille striker Gervinho.

Les Elephants were disappointing in January’s Africa Cup of Nations, being knocked out by Algeria in the quarter-finals.

Goalkeepers:

Boubacar Barry (Lokeren), Aristides Zogbo (Maccabi Netanya), Daniel Yeboah (ASEC Abidjan).

Group G fixtures

Tuesday June 15

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Cote d’Ivoire v Portugal 
undefined Brazil v North Korea 

Sunday June 20

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Brazil v Cote d’Ivoire 

Monday June 21

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Portugal v North Korea 

Friday June 25

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Portugal v Brazil 
undefined North Korea v Cote d’Ivoire

Defenders:

Souleymane Bamba (Hibernian), Arthur Boka (VfB Stuttgart), Guy Demel (Hamburg SV), Emmanuel Eboue (Arsenal), Steve Gohouri (Wigan Athletic), Siaka Tiene (Valenciennes), Kolo Toure (Manchester City), Benjamin Brou Angoua (Valenciennes).

Midfielders:

Jean-Jacques Gosso Gosso (Monaco), Abdelkader Keita (Galatasaray), Emmanuel Kone (International Curtea Arges), Gervais ‘Gervinho’ Yao Kouassi (Lille), Christian Koffi Ndri (Sevilla), Cheik Ismael Tiote (Twente Enschede), Yaya Toure (Barcelona), Didier Zokora (Sevilla).

Forwards:

Aruna Dindane (Lekhwiya), Seydou Doumbia (Young Boys Berne), Didier Drogba (Chelsea), Salomon Kalou (Chelsea).

Source: Al Jazeera, News Agencies