Colombia vs Ivory Coast Prediction - Will The Elephants Be Able To Stop This Super Strong Colombia?

Next Thursday, Colombia will take on Ivory Coast at Estádio Nacional de Brasilia, on what will be a match of paramount importance for both sides’ pursuit for a place on the next stage of the competition.

Colombia are certainly still savouring their precious win against Greece for the opening match of Group C. The South American side put up a quality performance against an always complicated Greek side, known for their ruthless defensive line and definitely for not allowing too many goals. Although, the Colombians managed to score three times and, even with Radamel Falcao out, they appeared to be very dangerous on their attacking movements.

The Colombian skipper José Pekérman changed his usual tactical approach a bit and displayed his team into something similar to a 4-4-1-1 with the passing master, James Rodíguez, lurking behind the front man, Teófilo Gutiérrez. Colombia usually plays with two forwards up in the front and with an old school number ten supporting them, who acts as a sort of advanced playmaker, but this time, Pekérman opted for a more “conservative” approach, giving muscle to the midfield line by introducing a line of four hard working footballers in the centre of the pitch.

The match against Ivory Coast will certainly be different since the African Elephants have a game style completely different from the Greeks. Nevertheless, and considering the teams’ quality performance on the match against the Hellenics, it is not likely that Pekérman will implement severe changes for the next Thursday’s clash.

As for the Ivory Coast, the match against Colombia will present a good test to what are indeed the team’s real weaknesses and strong points. Sabri Lamouchi’s men experienced several difficulties to overcome a well organized Japan, especially during the first-half when there was still some fuel left on the Japanese tank. Lamouchi caught everyone by surprise once again by leaving the Ivorian star Didier Drogba on the bench and the team clearly struggled without their leader. When Drogba replaced Serey on the 62’ minute, Ivory Coast seem to have regained their enthusiasm and in just four minutes’ time the team scored twice, by Bony and Gervinho condemning Japan to an eminent defeat.

For the match against Colombia it is likely that Drogba will return to the starting line-up, paring with Bony up in the front and reducing the ineffective presence of five men in the midfield line.

Colombia must be considered favourites for next Thursday’s match because of their consistency and because of the quality of their football, although no one ever actually knows what to expect from a team such as Ivory Coast, because on a good day they tend to cause heavy damage on their opponents.

Colombia

Stats: W-2 L-0 D-3

Recent Form - WWLLL

Ivory Coast

Stats: W-2 L-1 D-2

Recent Form - WWLDD

Possible Line-ups

Colombia (4-4-1-1) - Ospina - Zúñiga - Perea - Yepes - Armero - Aguilar - Sanchez - Ibarbo - Cuadrado - James Rodríguez - Gutiérrez

Ivory Coast (4-2-3-1) - Barry - Aurier - Zokora - Bamba - Boka - Tiote - Y. Touré - Gervinho - Kalou - Bony - Drogba

Prediction: Colombia 2 Ivory Coast 1