The Ivory Coast is setting up camp on the grounds of MLS club Philadelphia Union. This means less travel stress for the West African team and employees.
These are the most important players in Ivory Coast
- Yan Diomandé (RB Leipzig, market value approx. 90 million euros): Lightning-fast winger and perhaps the most exciting teenager of this tournament. Diomandé moves into the penalty area from outside, looks for the one-on-one and usually wins it. Against Ecuador he had 9 dribbles and 2 shots on goal, but failed to score. He’s not yet consistent enough in finishing – that’s the gap between talent and world class.
- Amad Diallo (Manchester United, market value approx. 45 million euros): Everyone is talking about Diomandé. But Diallo can hardly become less dangerous. Diallo came on against Ecuador in the 56th minute – and needed half an hour to decide the game. He started dribbling seven times and only lost the ball once. He is two-footed and can play on the right, centrally behind the point or as an indenting wing. Coach Faé uses him as a joker who cracks tired defenses. He should play the same role against Germany.
- Franck Kessié (Al-Ahli, market value approx. 12 million euros): Fixed point in central midfield and captain. Played against Ecuador with a passing accuracy of 93 percent. Kessié protects after losing the ball, but also takes the offensive himself. He had his best time at AC Milan, after which he played a season at FC Barcelona. Recently, however, there have been fluctuations in form in Saudi Arabia. His legs are no longer the fastest – if Germany picks up the pace in the transition game, Kessié could run after them.
- Evan Ndicka (AS Roma, market value approx. 35 million euros): Defense chief with international experience. Robust, strong in the air, important for the organization. Slight weaknesses in positional play. Opposing center forwards still don’t have much to smile about against this “edge”. So far he has not played a minute at the World Cup because he is suffering from a thigh injury.
- Guéla Doué (Stade Rennes, market value approx. 18 million euros): The most inconspicuous and perhaps most important player in the Ecuador game. 53 passes, 94 percent accuracy. Plus 7 ball recoveries. Doué is the right-back who carries the Ivory Coast’s game forward: he pushes up, supplies Diomandé with balls and at the same time protects the right side. His problem: If he moves up too far, there is space behind him. This is exactly where Germany operates Nathaniel Brown.
This is the coach
Emerse Faé already led the team to the Africa Cup of Nations title in 2024, but now has a test ahead of him. After being eliminated in the quarter-finals of this year’s Africa Cup of Nations, he has been criticized. According to media reports, he came under pressure after expectations of a successful title defense were not met. At the same time, he is considered a coach who trusts young players and promotes the development of the team. He showed courage against Ecuador: he substituted Diallo and Bonny for the two pale strikers Wahi and Touré – and was rewarded.
As a central midfielder, Faé was part of the so-called “golden generation” of the Ivory Coast national team in the noughties, which he led together with world stars such as Didier Drogbathe brothers Yaya and Kolo Touré, Didier Zokora and Emmanuel Eboué. At club level he played for FC Nantes, OGC Nice and Reading FC before he had to end his career at the age of just 28 due to chronic phlebitis.
Game system and tactics
The basis of Ivory Coast’s game is a stable back four, on which coach Faé sets up either a 4-4-2 or a 4-2-3-1, depending on the opponent. Against Ecuador he chose a 4-4-2 with Diomandé and Wahi up front. There are actually real elephants in central defense and defensive midfield: most of the players in this position group are at least 1.90 meters tall. Things get tough in the center, where spaces are blocked, long shots are headed away and balls are secured.
Ivory Coast doesn’t press high and aggressively, they lurk. She stands compactly in the middle block (27 percent of defensive actions), moves cleanly and waits for the opponent to make a mistake. Then things happen quickly: The Ivorians don’t switch over with long balls, but with short, vertical passes after winning the ball.
Against low-lying opponents, it’s often over before the last chain. The penalty area is insufficiently occupied and crosses do not find a clear target. Ecuador sent seven crosses into the penalty area – not a single one arrived. The longing for a new national hero like Didier Drogba permeates the Ivorians from every pore. A classic target player who completes attacks and secures balls is missing. A guiding bull for “Les Éléphants”.