3 THOUGHTS ON: COTE D' IVOIRE 2-1 JAPAN

　
1.  OVERBURDENED HONDA

The Japanese started the match very well by defending around their 18 yard box, counter attacking superbly & having their attacking players, namely Keisuke Honda & Shinji Kagawa, taking on the Cote D'Ivoire defenders. This resulted in a special goal from Keisuke Honda that completely shell-shocked Les Elephants. Even right back Atsuto Uchida got in the mood, by bombing forward & almost doubled Japan's lead.

The 2nd half was another story. Cote D'Ivoire were more direct & confident on the ball, while Didier Drogba's introduction undoubtedly had a psychological effect on the match. The Japanese midfield also lost its way. Honda had no room to manoeuvre, while Shinji Kagawa disappeared completely.

The Japanese team's manager Alberto Zaccheroni will need to figure out how to incorporate Kagawa & the rest of the team to help Keisuke Honda carry the load in time for Thursday's match against Greece. If they do not, team Japan can kiss their hopes for the next round goodbye.

　

2.  THE DROG EFFECT

Call it psychological or otherwise, but Didier Drogba's introduction had a major effect on Les Elephants. The grizzly veteran, wearing a new Arda Turan-like beard, stepped onto the pitch & made an immediate impact. A hard nosed run along the right side of the 18 yard box of Japan put Zaccheroni's men on notice & freed up room for Drogba's team-mates, such Bony & Gervinho. Moments later Bony scored to tie the game & you could tell Japanese were starting to collapse. The Samurai Blue fears were confirmed when 2 minutes later in the 66th minute Gervinho scored the eventual match winner.

While this result is undoubtedly an uplifting one for Sabri Lamouchi's men, it poses him a bit of a conundrum as well: do you start Didier Drogba in the next match against Colombia? There was an undeniable lift from Drogba's presence on the field, but who do you take off in his place? Wilfried Bony is a dangerous & coveted striker who will convert most of his chances when he gets them. Gervinho offers speed that most other players just do not have & is able to dribble past defenders or make great runs behind them. Salomon Kalou is another option, but Kalou is very active in tracking back for defensive responsibilities, which will be needed against Colombia & Greece. Not an easy decision for Lamouchi at all.

3.  AURIER ANNOUNCES HIMSELF

Didier Drogba's introduction to the match had a massive effect on Cote d'Ivoire's play & subsequently the win, but so did a little known right back's play. Serge Aurier, the 21 year old who currently plays for Toulouse in France, set up both of Les Elephants goals in the 2nd half with 2 pin-point crosses that Bony & Gervinho both converted. But even beyond those 2 goals, Aurier had already made his mark on the match in 1st half, by bombing up the pitch, linking up quite well with Gervinho & delivering 2-3 perfect crosses that his team-mates could not convert.

The muscular full back has recently been linked to the likes of Liverpool & Arsenal, but expect that list to grow after today's stellar Man of the Match performance.