Colombia began the South American qualifiers all right, accumulating 4 points from their initial two games prior to defeat at home to Argentina in their 3rd outing meant completion of Leonel Alvarez’s power as coach.
The arrival of Jose Nestor Pekerman as his substitute stood for a transforming point for Los Cafeteros in their journey to Brazil 2014, with the Argentinian coach supervising a run of five wins in their following six games, a series that placed them firmly on training course for the finals.
Colombia’s prodding residence form at their Barranquilla castle was main to their successful campaign, as was the balance between attack and protection and their cutting side up front. No side in the group allow fewer targets compared to their 13 and only 2 of their multinational rivals scored more than their 27.
After clinching a trip to their first world finals considering that France 1998 on the penultimate matchday, the Colombians eventually took second area, their highest ever before finish because the introduction of the existing certifying system.
With his sparkling kind at Monaco, the respected Falcao is now normally regarded as Colombia’s main striking threat. The 25-year-old killer concerned prominence at River Plate, initially in the youth team then with the elderly side, prior to relocating to Europe in 2009 where he gained 2 Leagues, two Cups, 3 Super Cups and the UEFA Europa League with Porto, and afterwards included another UEFA Europa League and European Super Cup with Atletico Madrid.
And also Falcao, the Colombians can likewise trust the experience of defensive duo Mario Yepes and Luis Perea at the back, as well as the imagination of attacking midfielder James Rodriguez and the goalscoring reaction of Teo Gutierrez, a deadly partner for Falcao in advance.
Meanwhile, Cote d’Ivoire breezed through their opening certifying team with four wins from their six suits. They racked up 15 goals to five conceded, and their just fell points came from 2 draws against their largest rivals Morocco. Their home-and-away play-off was much harder nevertheless as a resurgent Senegal stood in their means.
For the last quarter of a hr of the second leg, the Senegalese were one goal far from knocking senseless the Elephants on away objectives at 3-2 aggregate, yet Salomon Kalou’s late target settled the connection and provided the Ivorians into their 3rd successive World Cup finals.
Cote d’Ivoire boast a few of the best specific talents in Africa. Ahead Drogba and Salomon Kalou are a powerful front pair, while midfield duo Didier Zokora and Yaya Toure do vital ball-winning duties in the middle of the park. Eruptive winger Gervinho products solution from both flanks, with Emmanuel Eboue and Kolo Toure giving a wide range of experience at the back.
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