adminRIO DE JANEIRO. — Ivory Coast face Greece today knowing that three points would see them advance from Group C and into the last-16 stage of the 2014 World Cup soccer finals. The match kicks-off at 10pm. The African side have collected three points from their two group matches this summer — first beating Japan, before losing to already-qualified Colombia last time out.
A draw could also be enough to see them advance, providing that Japan do not beat Colombia and overturn a slight goal difference disadvantage.
Greece, meanwhile, also have a slim chance of advancing despite taking just one point and indeed failing to score in their first two matches.
Three points for the European side would see them advance if Colombia beat Japan, while Greece could also make the last-16 regardless of the result in the other match if they record a big win over Ivory Coast, but a significant goal-swing in their favour would also need to occur.
Greece and Ivory Cost have both failed to make the knock-out stages of the World Cup in their two previous attempts.
Greece will be without the services of Konstantinos Katsouranis, who saw red against Japan. As a result, experienced midfielder Giorgios Karagounis is expected to come into the side.
Kostas Mitroglou is struggling with an injury, meanwhile, with Theofanis Gekas pushing for a spot in attack alongside Celtic forward Georgios Samaras.
Didier Drogba is pushing for a spot in the Ivory Coast XI, but the experienced forward could once more miss out to Wilfried Bony.
Salomon Kalou is expected to come into the team, however, with Gervinho and Max Gradel also providing support from attacking positions.
The back four is expected to remain unchanged, but Yaya Toure could drop into a deeper central midfield position.
Meanwhile, Japan will enter today’s World Cup Group C clash with Colombia knowing that only three points would keep their slim hopes of making the last-16 stage of the competition alive.
Alberto Zaccheroni’s side lost their opening match 2-1 to Ivory Coast, before picking up a goalless draw with basement side Greece on June 19.
As a result, Japan sit third in the group on one point, two points behind second-place Ivory Coast, who face Greece on the same evening.
As it stands, a Japan victory against Colombia would be enough to see them advance into the next round if Ivory Coast narrowly lose against Greece.
Colombia, however, have already safely booked their spot in the knock-out stage of the competition following two wins. The South American team opened their group campaign with a 3-0 win over Greece, before beating Ivory Coast 2-1 last time out.
Colombia have only reached the last-16 stage of a World Cup once before (1990).
Japan have no fresh injury concerns from their goalless draw with Greece, but Manchester United attacker Shinji Kagawa could return to the XI. The experienced Yasuhito Endo is also pushing for a start, but Yoshito Okubo and Yuya Osako are both expected to continue in forward positions. — Soccernet.
Online Reporter