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Attendance: 40,267
Ivory Coast national football team
World Cup | Group Stage
Jun 15, 2014 at 2am UK
 
Japan national football team

2-1

Bony (64'), Gervinho (66')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Honda (16')

Sabri Lamouchi hails 'game-changer' Didier Drogba

Ivory Coast coach Sabri Lamouchi praises the 'game-changing' qualities of Didier Drogba, who helped his nation to a 2-1 win over Japan.

Ivory Coast boss Sabri Lamouchi has hailed the impact of second-half substitute Didier Drogba following the 2-1 win over Japan in their World Cup opener.

The Elephants got their Group C campaign off to a winning start as two quickfire headers from Wilfried Bony and Gervinho helped the African nation come from behind to claim the victory.

Both goals came minutes after Drogba was introduced by Lamouchi, and the French coach has praised the game-changing qualities of his striker.

"We didn't start the game very well by conceding through a lapse in concentration. After that, we got into a lot of good positions," he told reporters at full time.

"For us it was really important to start well this tournament. To have a player like Didier Drogba in your squad, as a starter or a sub, changes a game.

"The players are very happy with the victory, but we are not yet qualified."

Ivory Coast sit second in Group C behind Colombia, who enjoyed a comfortable 3-0 win over Greece on Saturday.

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Gervinho of the Ivory Coast celebrates scoring his team's second goal with teammate Didier Drogba during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group C match between the Ivory Coast and Japan at Arena Pernambuco on June 14, 2014
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Match Analysis: Ivory Coast 2-1 Japan
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Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Netherlands Netherlands32107
Q Senegal flag Senegal32016
3 Ecuador flag Ecuador31114
4 Qatar Qatar30030

Group B

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Q England flag England32107
Q United States USA31205
3 Iran Iran31023
4 Wales flag Wales30121

Group C

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Q Argentina Argentina32016
Q Poland Poland31114
3 Mexico Mexico31114
4 Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia31023

Group D

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Q France France32016
Q Australia Australia32016
3 Tunisia Tunisia31114
4 Denmark Denmark30121

Group E

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Q Japan Japan32016
Q Spain Spain31114
3 Germany Germany31114
4 Costa Rica flag Costa Rica31023

Group F

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Q Morocco Morocco32107
Q Croatia Croatia31205
3 Belgium Belgium31114
4 Canada Canada30030

Group G

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Q Brazil Brazil32016
Q Switzerland Switzerland32016
3 Cameroon flag Cameroon31114
4 Serbia Serbia30121

Group H

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Q Portugal Portugal32016
Q Republic of Korea South Korea31114
3 Uruguay flag Uruguay31114
4 Ghana flag Ghana31023


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