For the more established football nations such as Spain, Italy, Brazil, Germany and Argentina the phrase ‘Golden Generation’ is rarely attributed, due to the frequency they turn out exceptional groups of players.
It is instead reserved for the emerging countries, or those – like Portugal – who have sampled sporadic success on the world stage. In the case of the Ivory Coast, this World Cup represents the final flourish of their anointed ‘Golden Generation’: Didier Drogba, the Toure brothers, Yaya and Kolo, Didier Zokora, Salomon Kalou, Gervinho and Cheick Tiote, will all be either retired or into their 30s by the time Russia 2018 kicks off.
In the two World Cups this group of players have participated they’ve been unable to progress past the group stage, mainly due to desperately difficult draws; in 2006 with Argentina, the Netherlands and Serbia and in 2010 alongside Brazil and Portugal, finishing a frustrating third on both occasions.
However, Brazil 2014 could be different.
The Elephants have a considerably more manageable group with Colombia, Greece and Japan their stablemates and, as Manchester City midfielder Toure, who played in both Germany and South Africa, reveals confidence is high that this could finally be their chance to reach the knockout stages of the tournament.
Q This could potentially be the last time you play in the World Cup. It’s also the case of a lot of other players from the same generation. Is this extra motivation or, oppositely, does it increase pressure?
A It definitely gives me extra motivation. Why? Because with this generation we are all the same age and as we have gone along, we have grown and played together. I think that we gained experience and now, we don’t want any negativity. Since it could be the last World Cup for some of us, I think it’s worth it to put in the effort.
I think we are more serious and more competitive and that’s the spirit we’re bringing with us.
What is the main strength of the team?
Our attack. Offensively, we have players who can make a difference at any moment. But, it’s true that when there is a big strength, there is always a weakness and it’s true that defensively, we have quite a few things to sort out. It hasn’t been long since our match against Senegal (where they won 4-2 on aggregate in a two-legged play-off) when they created a number of problems for us because, defensively, we weren’t tough enough – we weren’t aggressive enough. But, we are training ourselves to overcome these hurdles, to work on our weaknesses because at the World Cup even the tiniest error could be our downfall.
Some people think that Group C is the easiest in the competition, or perhaps, the most open. Do you see it this way?
I would say yes, the most open, because any team could progress to the next stage. All the teams stand a chance, but it will depend on the first match. Those who have a good start to the competition, I think, will have a good chance of continuing.
But, one should not rely on that idea because we know that Colombia are fifth in the FIFA rankings. And Greece are always a team that should not be underestimated. Japan work together and are difficult to beat. They are inexhaustible. So, with that, it will be very complicated.
As players, I think we know what to expect in terms of public opinion. They’ll say it will be easy enough for us because we have Drogba, Gervinho, Salomon and that could be true, but don’t forget that underestimating your opponent is already losing a battle.
Are you excited to go to Brazil for the first time?
Absolutely, if I could, I’d go today! I want to get on an airplane and go now, but, I think I have a few things to do before then! But I’m very excited to participate in the World Cup because it’s going to be really special. It’s in the biggest football country that has produced players like Pele. There’s nothing better.
What will make you say at the end of the tournament, “That was good. That was a success”?
Well, I’m not as vain as that, but okay, I think that the goal of Africa today is to get to the semi-finals or maybe the final. Without underestimating our adversaries: there’s Spain, Brazil, Argentina etc, it’s in South America, so it’s going to be very, very complicated.
The most important thing for us is to take things a step at a time. If we pass the first round, we’re likely to be up against Italy, Uruguay or England, which will also be very tough. The goal is to pass the first round. And after that, we’ll see.
Ghana made it to the quarter-finals in South Africa in 2010. It feels as though African teams are getting closer…
Yes, we feel it because we already see it with the junior sides. I think, two or three times now an African team has won the Under-17 or Under-20 World Cup. The two levels are different because, well, at the top level, the players are exceptional, but we’re getting closer.
If the Ivory Coast hadn’t qualified, which team would you have supported?
Cameroon, Ghana and Nigeria. I like Nigeria because Stephen Keshi is a great manager and Cameroon because of Samuel Eto’o, who is a good friend. Ghana I like because of Asamoah Gyan, Michael Essien, all these players, it’s like a family – like friends. An African can’t help but support an African.
African football seems to have a certain passion surrounding the national teams, what do you think fuels this?
There is a lot of enthusiasm in Africa because, when we compare it to other continents, the African continent is not so rich in sport. That’s to say that, in Africa, there’s only football. In Europe, there’s football, there’s basketball, there’s American Football, there’s a lot of sport for people to play and to watch. If you take 10 Africans, at least nine out of the 10 will be good at football. Football is something big, it’s something exceptional that we do because, for those nine Africans, they live only to play football and they sleep only to play football.
