The group which promised so much actually delivered very little in terms of drama and excitement. Five time winners Brazil eased through with two wins and a draw, Portugal pipped Ivory Coast to second spot while the Korean DPR as expected failed to get a point on the board. The deciding factor in the group came in the second round of matches, Portugal taking on North Korea in a re run of the classic 1966 quarter final which Portugal won...More

Ivory Coast bow out of the World Cup with a morale-boosting 3-0 victory over Korea DPR in Nelspruit, the biggest win in their finals participation. They will be left to reflect on what could have been after failing to overcome insurmountable circumstances to force their way into the last 16. At the start of the match, Sven-Goran Eriksson’s men sat in third place, knowing they needed a minor miracle in order to progress. Three points awa...More

KOREA DPR 0 IVORY COAST 3Y Toure 14, Romaric 20, Kalou 82 Ivory Coast began the match strong favourites to follow their opponents, Korea DPR, out of the World Cup, faced with the unlikely task of reaching Portugal’s high goal-difference. However, Sven-Göran Eriksson’s team began the game with an attacking mentality and in the first minute Yaya Toure played Kader Keita in on the right-hand side of the box, but his shot was saved by...More

The final day of the group stage promises to be a cracker. The two fixtures of the day revolve around Portugal and Brazil, the winner of which will top Group G, and Chile and Spain, the winner of which assures their place in the last-16 and leaves the other sides guessing. The other two games are of equal importance, but are overshadowed by these mammoth ties. Korea DPR meet Ivory Coast in the earlier game, with Switzerland and Hondu...More

Ivory Coast go into their final game of the World Cup knowing they face a near impossible task to reach the last 16. Sven-Goran Eriksson and his side require the unlikeliest set of results after disappointingly taking just one point from their opening two matches in Group G, a lifeless attack-shy 0-0 against Portugal followed up by Sunday’s 3-1 defeat at the hands of Brazil in Johannesburg. With Brazil topping the table on six point...More

Ivory Coast’s hopes of qualifying for the last 16 in the World Cup lie in tatters after a crushing 3-1 defeat to Brazil in Johannesburg. A double by Luis Fabiano, his first international goals since September 2009, and an easy third by Elano put Sven-Goran Eriksson’s side to the sword, who despite a late rally now rely on results going their way to progress to the knockout stages. Confusingly, Eriksson decided to drop Gervinho, man...More