Curacao and Ivory Coast meet at the Linc, Philadelphia, with both teams chasing history. A point guarantees Les Elephants’ progress to the
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Three points behind Germany but two clear of both Ecuador and Curacao, this Ivorian crop is on the brink of achieving something that eluded even greats Didier Drogba and Yaya Toure – progress beyond the group stage of a World Cup.
And as defensively resolute as the Caribbean minnows were against La Tri, Ivory Coast will fancy their chances of getting there in style.
Although they’ve only scored twice so far, those goals came against a notoriously stingy Ecuador backline and Germany, one of the title favourites. Most of their best moves have come down the wings, through the jet-heeled Yan Diomande, Diallo or Nicolas Pepe, and we expect that to be no different here.
Tim Howard’s legendary display against Belgium in 2014 drew comparisons with a wall, but Curacao’s goalkeeper requires no such nickname. Eloy Room shut the door on wave upon wave of Ecuadorian attacks on Sunday, making a record-equalling 15 saves to help secure the Pantera Negra’s first World Cup point.
To stand any chance of progressing, however, they’ll need more than another heroic goalkeeping performance.
Dick Advocaat’s men have, understandably, played exclusively on the break, but although they’ve reached promising positions at times, they’ve only mustered six shots on target, including Livano Comenencia’s equaliser against Germany.
Emmanuel Agbadou, meanwhile, has been at the heart of a few hairy moments at the back for Ivory Coast.
FourFourTwo’s prediction
Curacao 0-2 Ivory Coast
FourFourTwo predicts that the Ivorians will cruise into the Round of 32 off the back of a routine win.
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