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It’s done! Ivory Coast will reach the round of 16 in a World Cup for the first time in four attempts after their 2-0 win against a lively but messy Curaçao team on Thursday in Philadelphia.
It’s done! Ivory Coast will reach the round of 16 of a World Cup for the first time in four attempts after their 2-0 win against a playful but messy Curaçao team on Thursday in Philadelphia.
With six points, the Ivorians finish second in Group E behind Germany and will face the second-placed team from Group I, either France or Norway, on June 30 in Dallas.
In their previous World Cup appearances in 2006, 2010, and 2014, they didn’t make it past the group stage.
“We’re happy, we’re proud, and now we can see even further. We’re going to prepare well for the round of 16,” said Émerse Faé to BeIN Sports after the match. “It wasn’t our best game out of the three, but the most important thing is that we win, don’t concede any goals, and qualify,” he added.
“We know that now it will be one game at a time, and we’ll try to go as far as possible,” emphasized Nicolas Pépé, who scored twice on Thursday.
Despite the defeat and elimination, Curaçao can be satisfied with their first campaign in the competition, having earned a point against Ecuador.
For this last group match, in a nearly full stadium for a midweek afternoon game (68,324 fans), the Ivorian coach Émerse Faé had started Christopher Operi and Ousmane Diomande (22) in defense and Ange-Yoan Bonny up front.Curaçao’s coach, the Dutchman Dick Advocaat, had kept the same starting eleven as in the match against Ecuador (0-0). The Elephants, dominant from the start, took the lead in the 7th minute through Nicolas Pépé, who finished off a cut-back from Yan Diomandé in the box. The Villarreal striker, named ‘man of the match,’ completed his brace shortly after the hour mark with a right-footed strike, well set up by Ibrahim Sangaré (64th). Poor choice by Diomandé, the young RB Leipzig winger, who was a nightmare for the Curaçao defenders with his runs and crosses (18th, 37th), while Amad Diallo was bold with his curling shots (10th, 23rd). And Sangaré had the chance to make it 3-0 but was denied by goalkeeper Eloy Room (88th). Curaçao’s players tried to be dangerous – with shots from Jurien Gaari (15th) and Tahith Chong (20th, 40th, 73rd), the striker who looks a bit like Carlos Valderrama, or raids from the Bacuna brothers, Juninho.(11th) and Leandro, whose close-range shot went just past Fofana’s goal (43rd) – in vain.
After the break, Sherel Floranus also gave the ‘Blue Wave’ a nice curling shot from the edge of the box that went just over Fofana’s goal (56th).
But they struggled with numerous turnovers and poor passing choices, like giving away two corners to the opponent at the end of the first half.
The best chance came right at the end of the game, when Jeremy Antonisse and then Floranus, both offside, took shots at goal (90+3rd).
