When they arrived in Recife, on Brazil’s northern coast, the first order of business wasn’t a training session or a team meeting. Coach Sabri Lamouchi didn’t gather them around a chalkboard to talk tactics. The players, in garish orange tracksuits, completely identifiable as the world superstars they are, hung around the lobby of their hotel.
Didier Drogba posed for photographs with fans. He flashed a smile and was as accessible as Yaya Toure, Kolo’s brother, one of Manchester City’s best players this season and a three-time African footballer of the year.
“There’s a special feeling in this team, always, when we come together,” said Drobga, a UEFA Champions League winner and idol at former club Chelsea. His team-mates buzzed around him, some in conversation with hotel staff over bits of this and that: ice and WiFi passwords, the mundane odds and ends of any guest. Serge Aurier leaned against a marble wall, the Arsenal target and the team’s youngest player joking and giggling with Salomon Kalou and Roma’s Gervinho, his unmistakable braids dangling.
There’s talk of a stroll along Recife’s beachfront. The usual objections are raised, and quickly squashed. It’s what the players wanted and it was going to happen. Let the security people worry. “We’re like a family for sure,” Kalou, formerly of Chelsea now with Lille in France, commented. “The young boys and the older guys, we’re all the same here and we have a good time together.”
Kolo Toure, 33, is a veteran playing in his last World Cup. He shares a similar opinion. “It’s always a different atmosphere from our clubs,” said the former Arsenal star, now with Liverpool in the twilight of his career. “We’re all from the same country,” he added, shaking hands with a winking member of the team’s staff. “We have the same attitude and the same mentality.”
The entire starting XI of this Ivorian team comes from Europe’s top leagues. The players, to a man, are just finishing up a gruelling ten months of football at the highest level on European shores. There is relief in coming together with familiar faces, old friends and even literal family in the case of the Toure boys. It’s not to say the Africans are taking it easy on holiday here in Brazil. “We may look relaxed,” Drogba said, those famous eyes turning steely and hard. “But this is no joke for us. We’re here to work and to do the job. We want to play hard, play as a team and be focused.”
Intensity in training The exact ratios of relaxation to intensity in the Côte d’Ivoire team are hard to calculate, but Lamouchi’s men are all business in training, intense and uncompromising. A misplaced cross from Aurier is met with a volley of colourful French verbiage. The youngster clearly demands much of himself. A lazy pass, no matter who’s responsible, is identified and denounced by the veterans. Tackles come in thick and fast too. Times stop and breath is held as Yaya Toure is sent bundling to the turf by hard-man Cheick Tiote. No complaints from the captain and global superstar.
Their 2-1 opening win against Japan at the Arena Pernambuco was a testament to the Africans’ preparations. A goal down early, they didn’t let their heads drop. When Drogba came off the bench in the 62nd minute he didn’t mince on to the pitch with a sulk, hands on hips, aggravated at being left out of the starting XI. He charged around the grass. He stalked and frightened the Japanese defence and pushed open holes for Gervinho and Wilfried Bony to score. He did his part for the team, for the family.
Kolo Toure, left on the bench for the whole game, was the loudest cheerleader. He embraced everyone at the final whistle and charged down the tunnel shouting in jubilation.
Once the Ivorians were in their dressing room, they stayed there. Shouts and laughter, the sounds of family, seeped through the cement walls. “We need to keep putting this togetherness on the field,” Kolo Toure said, his expression satisfied and kind. A date with Colombia awaits. “Now we’ll relax,” he concluded, shuffling toward a waiting plane. “But we won’t play relaxed.” (
fifa.com)
World Cup 2014: Sterling happy for Rooney switch
Raheem Sterling insists he is happy to switch positions to accommodate Wayne Rooney if it helps keep England’s World Cup ambitions alive.
Sterling, 19, played behind Daniel Sturridge in the 2-1 defeat by Italy and earned praise for his performance. Rooney started on the left but, despite setting up the equaliser, was largely ineffective and is set to return to a central role against Uruguay.
“I would be happy to play anywhere the manager puts me,” said Sterling.
“I will be working for the team regardless of the position I play in.”
BBC pundits Alan Shearer and Rio Ferdinand have called for England boss Roy Hodgson to play Rooney in a more central role despite Sterling’s fearless attitude, which epitomised the team’s fine attacking display against Italy. “It was a big occasion, my first competitive start,” said Sterling, who plays both wide and off the striker for Liverpool.
“I tried to think of it as just another game and give it my best shot. It wasn’t enough but the team did some really impressive stuff and we will go out on Thursday ready to go again.
“I tried to work hard for the team and help not just in the attacking bits but in defence as well. It was a difficult one because they had about three players around me every time.”
He added: “The people here just try to take the pressure off you so you can express yourself, which is the most important thing as a young player. They want you to show what you can do on the ball. I’m just learning and trying to be fearless in my approach to games.”
“He was the star man for us, the go-to guy,” Ferdinand said.
“Sterling was so direct and so positive every time we got the ball and he was a defender’s nightmare. He is quick, skilful and wants to attack you.”
On Thursday, Sterling looks likely to face Liverpool team-mate Luis Suarez after he missed Uruguay’s opening game 3-1 defeat against Costa Rica following knee surgery. England, however, are focusing on Uruguay as a team, not just Suarez.
“We have been looking at them but we don’t want to give too much away,” said Sterling. “We are trying to find ways in which we can really hurt them and I think the manager has been preparing really well for this game.” (BBC Sport)
England should have no fear – Lineker
England has a bright future and should go into their match against Uruguay confident of victory, says former captain, Gary Lineker.
Roy Hodgson’s team,
beaten 2-1 by Italy in their opening World Cup game on Saturday, play Uruguay on Thursday.
“It was an encouraging performance against Italy even if it was a rotten result,” said Lineker.
“There is nothing for England to fear. What they have to do is reproduce the performance they showed against Italy.”
England completed 89.5% of their 267 passes in the opposition half which, going into Tuesday’s matches, was the highest of any team in the tournament.
“Those statistics were extraordinary for an England team,” added Match of the Day presenter Lineker, who scored 48 goals in 80 England appearances.
“I cannot remember England coming close to another team when it comes to those sorts of passing statistics.”
He said that if England keep playing the same way, then the “future looks considerably brighter than it did even just a few months ago”, even if they ultimately fail to make it out of their group.
“England has got some terrific young players coming through,” added the former Leicester, Tottenham, Everton and Barcelona front man.
England played a 4-2-3-1 formation on Saturday, with Daniel Sturridge, 24, as a lone striker in front of Wayne Rooney, 28, Raheem Sterling, 19, and 23-year-old Danny Welbeck.
“England played some really good football,” added Lineker. “Sterling was exceptional. He took people on, he is strong, quick and dangerous.”
Lineker said he expected manager Roy Hodgson to pick a similar team for the game against Uruguay, although he conceded Rooney could be shifted into a different position after starting wide on the left against Italy.
But he added that “all eyes will be on Sterling to see if he can perform as well” as he did against the Italians.
Uruguay were
beaten 3-1 by Costa Rica in their opening game and were without Luis Suarez as he continues to recover from knee surgery.
The Liverpool striker had keyhole surgery to repair meniscus damage in his left knee on 22 May.
“I’m sure Suarez will play some part – they have nothing to lose – but can he really be 100% fit?” asked Lineker. “I rather think not.” (BBC Sport)
Balotelli signing as Wenger’s greatest Arsenal gamble
The Gunners boss is set to meet the Italian striker’s representatives on Saturday ahead of a proposed £25 million move that would test every facet of his management skills