World Cup Live game analysis:
Live score: Portugal 0 - Ivory Coast 0
Goal scorers: -
Venue: Nelson Mandela Bay stadium, Port Elizabeth
Match timing: June 15 at 7:25 PM IST
My prediction: Portugal 1 - Ivory Coast 2
Portugal squad: Edurado (Goakkeeper), Fabio Coentrao, Bruno Alves, Ricardo Carvalho, Paulo Ferreira, Pedro Mendes, Deco, Raul Meireles, Cristiano Ronaldo (captain), Danny and Liedson.
Ivory Coast squad: Boubacar Barry (Goalkeeper), Siaka Tiene, Emmanuel Eboue, Kolo Toure (Captain), Guy-Roland Demel, Yaya Toure, Cheick Tiote, Didier Zokora, Aruna Dindane, Gervinho and Salomon Kalou
Click here to read my preview on Portugal Vs Ivory Coast game.
Live World Cup analysis:
08:20 AM IST: African hope, Ivory Coast will take on Portugal in the crucial match of Group G.
09:42 AM IST: Crtistiano Ronaldo has not scored a single goal for Portugal in last 15 months.
10:02 AM IST: Ghana and South Africa are best performers for Africa while Cameroon and Algeria are poor performers in the first round games of group stage. Nigeria fought hard against Argentina.
10:28 AM IST: Didier Drogba is struggling with fitness problem – bad news for Ivory Coast. He may start on bench.
10: 46 AM IST: Both Portugal and Ivory Coast are unfortunate teams. Even if someone finishes second in group, they may face Spain in last 16. Who want this kind of draw?
07:10 PM IST: Portugal squad is announced. Pepe is not fit (bad news) and no place for Simao. Danny is in - good performance in a warmup game.
07:12 PM IST: Bad news - Didier Drogba is on bench for this crucial match (fitness problem). Ivory Coast will be led by Manchester City defender (Kolo Toure) but Drogba may come as a substitute.
07:16 PM IST: Winner of this crucial group G match may definitely reach second round. Without Drogba, Ivory Coast may struggle but Pepe (Real Madrid) absence may weaken Portugal defence.
07:19 PM IST: As per Castrol Rankings, Cristiano Ronaldo rank is 2. As per FIFA rankings, Portugal rank is 3. But, Portugal rarely play by justifying its rank. Cristiano Ronaldo rarely play well for Portugal.
07:22 PM IST: Portugal’s wonderful performance in last warm-up game revived hopes after bad qualifying campaign.
FIFA approved Didier Drogba to wear special protective cast. He will come on as a substitute.
Live analysis of Portugal Vs Ivory Coast:
Most discussed names in this world cup: Not Messi/Ronaldo. But, Vvuvuzelas and Zabulanis!!!
4 minute: Ivory Coast is making good moves on right wing and is looking dangerous.
6 minute: Yellow card to Zokora (Ivory Coast).
7 minute: Cristiano Ronaldo scored his last goal for Portugal on February 11, 2009 (against Finland) in an International friendly game.
10 minute: Wonderful stroke by Cristiano Ronaldo. Unfortunately, it hit goal bar and bounced. Wonderful! wonderful! Portugal and Ronaldo are unlucky.
13 minute: Good opportunity for Ivory Coast. Freekick was shot wide.
16 minute: Both teams are making good moves and are looking dangerous. But, Portugal is looking as a one man team (too much dependence of Ronaldo)
New Zealand in the only team in this world cup that already earned red carpet welcome from its countrymen. Its victory over Serbia
20 minute: Both Cristiano Ronaldo and Demel got Yellow cards. Superstars need to control their emotions – otherwise they will face Zidane (2006) and Beckham (1998) fate. They should not fall in the trap of opponents. Ronaldo should learn lesson from Zinedine Zidane. Just forget their comments.
25 minutes – 3 yellow cards. Portugal is enjoying lot of possession (60%). Ivory Coast really missed Didier Drogba they are struggling to enter penalty area despite many good moves from midfield.
28 minute: We are seeing worst refereeing of the tournament in this match. He is struggling to take even easy decisions. (Just see that tackle on Toure and where referee is!)
32 minute: Salomon Kalou is struggling to beat Portugal defence. We are seeing very few defence splitting goal scoring passes in this tournament (Germany is an exception). Poor quality of football.
36 minute: If Cristiano Ronaldo continues with this kind of outburst, his world cup journey may end soon. You are captain. Team needs you. You need to maintain calmness.
42 minute: Ivory Coast is looking dangerous now. They are getting lot of support from African fans. We may see Didier Drogba in action in second half.
First half ends. Portugal 0 – Ivory Coast 0
Just one shot on target in entire first half. Ivory Coast made many good runs into Portugal area but failed to produce that crucial final ball. Even without Drogba, they looked more dangerous. Cristiano Ronaldo is sensational in first 15 minutes then faded after getting yellow card.
If this game ends in draw, goal difference may play vital role in deciding second spot in group G as both teams are expected to win against North Korea and may lose against Brazil.
Many teams are trying to avoid defeat in the first round of group stage games. If this continues, it is not good for tournament which started on vibrant note (Have you forgotten Mexico Vs South Africa match?)
Highlight of first half: Cristiano Ronaldo’s shot in the 7th minute.
Second half kicks off.
46 minute: Ivory Coast made dangerous move into penalty area and narrowly missed a goal.
47 minute: Ivory Coast missed another chance. Kolou should be substituted by Didier Drogba.
50 minute: Tiote is lucky not to get yellow card. Ivory Coast players seem to be experts in making “hidden tackles”.
53 minute: Kolou shot on goal but easy to save. No howler from goalkeeper.
54 minute: First substitution of the match. Danny out- Simao in (Portugal).
57 minute: Wonderful header by Leidson. Boubacar Barry pullsoff an easy save. Good second half. Both teams are laying for win.
58 minute: Ivory Coast is once again looking more and more threatening. Hats off to Ivory Coast for their attacking spirit despite missing Didier Drogba.
63 minute: Ivory Coast has compact defence. It may be difficult for any team to beat it without leaving gaps. We have to see how Brazil will tackle this defence.
65 minute: Ivory Coast substitution. Kolou out- Drogba in. Is he fully fit?
70 minute: It’s raining. Very fee chances for both teams. In group G, all teams have good defence. We have to see how North Korea will fight against Brazil.
15 minutes left. If this game ends in draw – more complex will be the situation.
New Zealand scored a goal in the last 30 seconds against Slovakia. Roberto Baggio scored 2 goals in last few minutes against Nigeria in 1994 world cup. Can Cristiano Ronaldo replicate that feat? His goalless run for Portugal is continuing so far.
79 minute: Good freekick by Cristiano Ronaldo – narrowly missed target.
83 minute: Ivory Coast has 2 fresh forwards (came as substitute) – Drogba and Keita. Can they score that crucial goal.
85 minute: Portugal substitution – Raul Meireles out and Amorim in
One thing is sure. Portugal is missing darting runs of Nani – who was out of world cup under controversial circumstances.
88 minute: Ivory Coast is conceding many corners and Drogba is missing feeding.
90 minute: Didier Drogba missed glorious chance just infront of goal. Unforgivable mistake. God provided him a chance to become Hero but he missed sitter. What is he doing there? Keita’s excellent pass was wasted by Drogba.
2 minutes added.
Final result: Portugal 0 – Ivory Coast 0
Man of the match: Cristiano Ronaldo. I liked Keita. His 10-minute cameo is more impressive than Ronaldo in entire 90 minutes.
I am watching most beautiful moments of the day after game. Ivory Coast players are in huddle.
When will Cristiano Ronaldo score for Portugal? Wait for North Korea.
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