The first match of round two from Group C features the two winners from last week. Colombia dominated Greece, 3-0, before Didier Drogba (pictured above) inspired Ivory Coast to a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Japan. The two sides play different styles, but both used width well last week. If this game gets stretched, it could be very exciting.
What’s At Stake
Both teams have three points, but since the other Group C second-round match hasn’t been played, neither side can guarantee progression with a win today. Six points with a game remaining is essentially a done deal, however.
A draw in the other game, between Japan and Greece, would send a winner today to the next round. That doesn’t seem unlikely; the Greeks are so defensive naturally and the Japanese were so timid after their first goal Saturday that both sides might just let the ball sit unkicked in the center of the pitch for ninety minutes. Meanwhile, a loss for either side isn’t the end of the world.
Colombia used 4-2-3-1 with great width in their first match, especially on the right side through Cuadrado, a thrilling player with the ball at his feet. James Rodriguez put on a show as the center of the “3;” he’ll be the man charged with breaking down the Ivory Coast defense today.
Ivory Coast were allowed to attack Japan for the majority of their first match, but they changed the way they did so by bringing on Drogba in the second half. Before the 36-year-old’s introduction, much of the Africans’ play went through the center. After, they were happy to send crosses toward their talismanic targetman, and got two header goals in four minutes. Drogba won’t start this match, either, so it’ll be up to Yaya Toure to overpower Japan through the middle. Toure was the best central midfielder in England last year. His train-like dribbles might be too much for Japan.
Players To Watch
Colombia: James Rodriguez, the playmaker.
Ivory Coast: Yaya Toure, the powerful driving force in the Ivorian midfield.
Adrian Healey and Alejandro Moreno. Healey built on his famous “Dutch Oven/French Toast” call with a dreadful line about Belgian chocolate on Monday. He’s on form. Moreno has been excellent, too.
Match-specific Drinking Games
Sweeter than Belgian chocolate: Take a shot any time Healey makes a nationality-based joke. Two if it’s about cocaine. How drunk? One country lends itself to the kind of easy stereotypes I’m ashamed to have just made; the other has the most literal name of any country in the world. You’ll not be thirsty.
Missing star: Take a shot whenever Didier Drogba is mentioned. Bonus shot if his picture is shown onscreen. How drunk? Steady buzz. (You can stop when he’s subbed in.)
The Juggernaut: Drink whenever Yaya Toure is fouled. How drunk? Dizzy. He can be unstoppable by legal means.
Colombia: Aguardiente. This Colombian hot sauce will get you as fired up as the many Colombians in the stadium, almost.
Ivory Coast: Bangui. Palm oil wine, best if made by a witch doctor.
For more:
– Read my general World Cup watching guide.
– Check out Zonal Marking, my favorite tactics website.
– See a commentary schedule or a review of each commentator.
– See where I’m getting my national drink recommendations.
– Check out other match previews from this group: Colombia vs. Greece
Picture credit: telegraph.co.uk
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