Ivory Coast 0 – 0 Portugal

Ivory Coast and Portugal played out a tense goalless draw to an under capacity but enthusiastic crowd in Port Elizabeth on Tuesday.

The result leaves both teams with a point from their first game at this World Cup; a point which threatens to eliminate neither but could have been trebled if either side had shown any real adventure, invention or purpose throughout the lacklustre 90 minutes.

Doubts over Didier Drogba’s inclusion were confirmed as Sven Goran Eriksson left him out of the starting eleven. But the Chelsea striker, still sporting an arm cast, was present on the bench; a welcome boost after a fractured elbow had threatened to end his campaign.  The need for his introduction after an hour, to the loudest cheer of the game from the stands, highlighted the absence of a serious goal threat from the Elephants, an absence even Drogba failed to rectify.

Portugal themselves offered very little to justify their position of third place in the FIFA world rankings. With the Ivory Coast captain missing from the start, all eyes were on the Europeans’ superstar, Cristiano Ronaldo, to bring the game to life. But aside from one moment of magic, a smart turn and blistering strike from 35 yards which rattled the post of the Ivory Coast goal, he too was subdued by the defensive football on display.

Ivory Coast’s combative tactics to halt the spontaneous brilliance of Ronaldo were evident from the third minute. But although Siaka Tiene’s challenge on the Portuguese captain was forceful, it was also fair. Four minutes later, however, Didier Zokora, playing as a makeshift centre back to utilise his pace against the swift Ronaldo, was booked for bringing down the Real Madrid striker on a counter attack.

Ronaldo’s magnificent long range effort, after 11 cautious minutes, showed a tantalising example of the talent throughout both teams. But it proved the highlight of a nervy first half. Even the threat of the world’s most expensive player was curbed somewhat by a yellow card after 20 minutes, squaring up to Guy Demel, who was also booked, after dropping to the ground rather easily following a challenge from the Ivorian right back.

As the first half wore on, Ivory Coast grew in confidence, progressing from off-target long range efforts to concerted pressure on Eduardo’s goal. Gervinho, playing in place of the injured Drogba, beat two defenders on his way into the Portugal penalty area, before Paulo Ferreira cleared the danger. Gervinho continued to impress, however, sending in a low cross which just evaded the onrushing Salomon Kalou, then coming inches away from connecting with Tiene’s ball across goal. The resulting corner sailed only inches over the head of Kolo Toure at the far post.

Despite this dramatic end to the first half, it was brought to a close by a Mexican wave from the crowd, never a good sign for the quality of football on display.

The second period began as the first ended, with Gervinho forcing a corner following a good run and shot from a tight angle. Kalou followed with two chances in a minute, first slipping at the vital moment inside the area, then shooting straight at Eduardo after composed build-up play from Yaya Toure.

With ten minutes of the second half gone Carlos Queiroz brought on Simao to replace the unimpressive Danny. Almost immediately Portugal had their first shot since the restart, Liedson getting a header on target from Deco’s cross.

Both sides quickly settled back into a tactical battle, however, with Ivory Coast bringing eleven players behind the ball as Portugal showed no real determination to break through them. Ronaldo soon started to become frustrated at his isolation up front, a serious of miscontrolled passes and swift dispossessions leaving the game in dire need of inspiration.

Such inspiration threatened to arrive with the introduction of Drogba. The Ivorian crowd, bravely battling to be heard above the droning vuvuzelas, welcomed their captain with a heavy expectation, but the game continued to limp towards the final whistle. Once again, however, the end of the half saw the Portugal goal under siege as Ivory Coast tried to take the initiative.

The moment Elephants fans had been waiting for came in the 91^st minute, fellow substitute Kader Keita slipping a ball through from Drogba inside the penalty area, but his lack of sharpness was evident, the stretched shot threatening the corner flag more than the score line. The pressure continued, though Portugal defended stoutly, the match coming to an end with an Ivory Coast corner which was taken short.

The failure to launch the ball into a dangerous area in the Elephants’ final set piece exemplified the lack of ambition shown throughout. However, after the harsh lessons learnt by their elimination at the 2006 World Cup, and manager Eriksson’s preference for caution, it could also be viewed as a lack of naivety.

“You saw two teams who didn’t want to lose. I thought if one team had won it should have been us” said Eriksson. “I was very happy with our discipline and organisation, we were organised for 90 minutes, in the past it wasn’t like that.”

It is undoubtedly an improvement on their opening game in their only other World Cup campaign, a 2-1 defeat to Argentina. But in a match in which they never looked outclassed or out-thought, and demonstrated the best of what attacking football there was, many fans may feel they could afford to aim a little higher.

Teams

Ivory Coast Barry, Demel, Toure, Zokora, Tiene, Eboue (Romaric 88), Toure Yaya, Tiote, Gervinho (Keita 82), Dindane, Kalou (Drogba 65).

Subs Not Used: Zogbo, Angoua, Gohouri, Doumbia, Gosso, Kone, Bamba, Yeboah.

Booked: Zokora, Demel.

Portugal Eduardo, Ferreira, Bruno Alves, Carvalho, Fabio Coentrao, Deco (Tiago 62), Mendes, Raul Meireles (Ruben Amorim 85), Ronaldo, Liedson, Danny (Simao 55).

Subs Not Used: Beto, Rolando, Duda, Miguel, Veloso, Pepe, Hugo Almeida, Ricardo Costa, Fernandes.

Booked: Ronaldo.

Att: 37,034

Ref: Jorge Larrionda (Uruguay).