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Attendance: 40,267
Ivory Coast national football team
World Cup | Group Stage
Jun 15, 2014 at 2am UK
 
Japan national football team

2-1

Bony (64'), Gervinho (66')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Honda (16')

Sabri Lamouchi hails 'game-changer' Didier Drogba

Ivory Coast coach Sabri Lamouchi praises the 'game-changing' qualities of Didier Drogba, who helped his nation to a 2-1 win over Japan.

Ivory Coast boss Sabri Lamouchi has hailed the impact of second-half substitute Didier Drogba following the 2-1 win over Japan in their World Cup opener.

The Elephants got their Group C campaign off to a winning start as two quickfire headers from Wilfried Bony and Gervinho helped the African nation come from behind to claim the victory.

Both goals came minutes after Drogba was introduced by Lamouchi, and the French coach has praised the game-changing qualities of his striker.

"We didn't start the game very well by conceding through a lapse in concentration. After that, we got into a lot of good positions," he told reporters at full time.

"For us it was really important to start well this tournament. To have a player like Didier Drogba in your squad, as a starter or a sub, changes a game.

"The players are very happy with the victory, but we are not yet qualified."

Ivory Coast sit second in Group C behind Colombia, who enjoyed a comfortable 3-0 win over Greece on Saturday.

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Gervinho of the Ivory Coast celebrates scoring his team's second goal with teammate Didier Drogba during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group C match between the Ivory Coast and Japan at Arena Pernambuco on June 14, 2014
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Match Analysis: Ivory Coast 2-1 Japan
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Tables header RHS

Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Germany Germany32107
Q Switzerland Switzerland31205
3 Hungary Hungary31023
4 Scotland flag Scotland30121

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Spain Spain33009
Q Italy Italy31114
3 Croatia Croatia30212
4 Albania national flag Albania30121

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England31205
Q Denmark Denmark30303
Q Slovenia Slovenia30303
4 Serbia Serbia30212

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Austria Austria32016
Q France France31205
Q Netherlands Netherlands31114
4 Poland Poland30121

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Romania Romania31114
Q Belgium Belgium31114
Q Slovakia Slovakia31114
4 Ukraine Ukraine31114

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal32016
Q Turkey Turkey32016
Q Georgia Georgia31114
4 Czech Republic Czech Republic30121


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