 Ivory Coast's Didier Drogba (L) looks towards Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo after Ronaldo attempted a free kick during a 2010 World Cup Group G soccer match at Nelson Mandela Bay stadium in Port Elizabeth June 15, 2010. [Agencies] |
PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa - Portugal vs Cote d'Ivoire, one of the most eyecatching duel at 2010 FIFA World Cup, witnessed a goalless draw in the end on Tuesday.
Eriksson explained why he put striker Droba on the bench. Droba came on as a 66th-minute substitute to replace fellow Chelsea striker Salomon Kalou.
"I spoke to him after training yesterday evening and he said he preferred to be on the bench," Eriksson said. "He said 'Boss, if you need me, I am there.' I hoped we would not need him but we wanted to win the game so we did what we did."
Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz has criticised Cote d' Ivoire's defensive approach: "We wanted to win the match, but as you saw, this was a game between two favourites, a very hard encounter.
"Our opponents did not want to take control at the start, they were just at the back defending, trying to launch counter-attacks, " Queiroz said after the match.
"We tried to attack but it is always hard against a team that do not try to take control of the match. In the second half we exchanged passes faster, we grew on the pitch, but it is always hard to play against a team that were always waiting for a mistake to score."
Queiroz said his team will have the responsibility of doing better in their next match against DPR Korea.
"In the second match, the teams will have to take more risks...We got a point against one of the favourites, now we have to win the next match."
It was such a tense and quality game that all the fans held their breath from the beginning to the end. The rain did not disrupt the game as both sides showed their skills, teamwork, pace and determination.
It was one of the most evenly-matched games in this World Cup so far, although Cristiano Ronaldo, the world's most expensive player, looked the most likely player to make something happen.
C. Ronaldo burst into space 25 yards from goal only 11 minutes into the game and fired a superb right-foot shot that touched the outside of the post with Elephants' keeper Boubacar Barry beaten.
Chelsea striker Didier Drogba was not in Cote d'Ivoire's starters but he was on the bench.
Without Drogba, Sven-Goran Eriksson is looking to Aruna Dindane and Gervinho to provide the goal threat.
With group rivals Brazil considered by many to be tournament favorites, both of the two sides have regarded this match as absolutely vital to their chances of joining Dunga's side in the Round of 16.
The game turned more breathtaking in the second half.
On 55 minutes, Simao, the most experienced player with 81 caps, including seven FIFA World Cup appearances, came off the bench to replace Portuguese forward Danny.
In the 66th minute, Drogba came off the bench to replace his Chelsea teammate Salomon Kalou.
Around 72 minutes, Portugal forced a couple of corners but the deliveries were disappointing. C. Ronaldo put the ball in the net but the whistle had long since blown for a foul by another forward Liedson.P In the 80th minute, C. Ronaldo unleased a free-kick from 30 yards but the ball was just over the top-left corner.
As Drogba squandered a goalmouth scoring chance in injury time, both sides had to accept the boring result.
The ball possession was 51 percent vs 49 percent in Portugal's favor, which showed how close the game was.
