The Elephants' World Cup campaign gets underway on Sunday against Ecuador in Philadelphia
The West African outfit are bidding to reach the knock-out stages for the first time in four attempts
Coach Emerse Fae spoke to FIFA before their opening game alongside Bazoumana Toure and Guela Doue
Can make it fourth time lucky? After failing to reach the knock-out stages in three consecutive editions – 2006, 2010 and 2014 – the African side are determined to go one step further at the .
Looking to re-write history, The Elephants are hoping to get a positive result against in their Group E opener in .
"Our first game will be very important," said Guela Doue, the older brother of France and Paris Saint-Germain forward . "We know that starting well and winning the game will put us in the best-possible position to go further in the tournament. We feel very determined going into this game and we'll leave no stone unturned in our preparations."
While preparing thoroughly and being determined are both important, Doue also said that the "young, spirited and fearless" Côte d'Ivoire team need to play with plenty of emotion, since the whole squad are taking part in their first-ever World Cup.
"When the game gets underway, I'll be very emotional and happy, I'll have goosebumps," said Bazoumana Toure, the 20-year-old forward of TSG Hoffenheim, who admitted having a lump in his throat when he found out he had made the final squad.
"Playing at the World Cup has genuinely been a huge dream of mine, as we've seen stars such as Gervinho and Didier Drogba grace this stage for our country before. And now it's our turn."
Up against a very solid Ecuador side that "defends well" according to Fae, and bolstered by PSG's , Côte d'Ivoire are expecting a "tough", "physical" game that will be decided by the "finer details". "It will be a battle," said the Ivorian head coach. "But that area of the game doesn't concern me. My team will have the answers for that."
"They're physical, but so are we," added Toure. "They are strong defensively, but we also have some very good players, going forward, who can make the difference at any moment. Everyone is at the top of their game and I think the Ecuadorians could well be surprised by the way we'll approach this game."
Côte d'Ivoire pose a threat all over the pitch – and that was clear to see in their three warm-up games for this World Cup, beating Scotland 1-0, Korea Republic 4-0, and France 2-1 respectively. In those games, the African side found the net seven times through seven different players, suggesting they have talent in all areas. Among their most talented forwards is , who scored against Les Bleus.
"We have players who are capable of unsettling the opposition in wide areas and scoring goals," said Doue, who also scored and registered an assist in the game against France.
"As soon as we're well-organised defensively, I like to give my players freedom," Fae explained. "I like players who can create, who have imagination, who never do the same thing. Nowadays, with video footage everywhere, it's so easy for opponents to analyse us. We have to be unpredictable."
Sunday's clash promises to be a belter, with both sides coming into the tournament full of confidence on the back of excellent qualifying campaigns. Côte d'Ivoire registered eight victories, two draws and 10 clean sheets in their 10 CAF qualifiers, while Ecuador finished second in the CONMEBOL standings, ahead of Brazil.
"We're about to play on the biggest stage in world football, and we're not just here to make up the numbers; our aim is to go as far as possible," insisted Doue. "We're representing Côte d'Ivoire and we'll do all we can to make our country proud."
"We genuinely believe in our ability and believe we can go very far," Fae added, hoping deep down to re-write the wrongs of 2006, when he saw his side lose all three games of their debut World Cup campaign in Germany from the bench.
Now he has the chance to be a part of Côte d'Ivoire's greatest success story in World Cup history.
Sources: FIFA Official
