Germany preparing for speedy challenge against Ivory Coast at World Cup
TORONTO, June 19 : Germany are expecting a challenging foot race in their next World Cup match against a speedy Ivory Coast side, coach Julian Nagelsmann said on Friday.
Ivory Coast Sport News
'We are not Germany': Ecuador coach urges caution ahead of Curacao clash
KANSAS CITY, Missouri, June 19 : Ecuador coach Sebastian Beccacece sought on Friday to distance his team from Germany's 7-1 demolition of Curacao, urging focus and respect ahead of a must-win World Cup clash against the Caribbean side.
Ivory Coast’s Diomande living World Cup dream, dealing with tragedy
LEIPZIG, Germany: Two years after leaving the United States following a series of unsuccessful MLS tryouts, Yan Diomande is shining at the World Cup for Ivory Coast — and still grieving a family tragedy. Diomande, 19, made his Ivory Coast debut in October and scored in his first two matches. On Saturday, the RB Leipzig winger faces his adopted home of Germany in Toronto having grown into one of the Elephants’ most dangerous attacking threats. Diomande’s development has come despite having to live with the death last year of his 15-year-old sister, who died after a stranger spiked her drink at a party. In an emotional post on the Players’ Tribune website on Thursday entitled “Dear Roxane,” Diomande wrote to her: “The pitch is the only place that I feel at home anymore. It’s the place where I feel calm, and I can speak to you. I just wish you were still here so I could tell you....
Germany keeper Neuer will retire from national team again after World Cup
WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina, June 18 : Germany's veteran keeper Manuel Neuer will go back into international retirement after the end of the World Cup, having returned to the team just for the tournament, he said on Thursday.
Germany face first real World Cup test against Ivory Coast's 'express train' Diomande
BOSTON, Massachusetts, June 18 : One name on every Germany player's mind is Ivory Coast winger Yan Diomande, whose meteoric rise in the Bundesliga has seen him emerge as the biggest threat to the four-time world champions when they face the African nation in the World Cup on Saturday.
Ecuador under pressure to rebound against Curacao at World Cup
KANSAS CITY, Missouri, June 18 : Ecuador face Curacao in Kansas City on Saturday knowing that even at this early stage of the World Cup, the stakes are already rising sharply for both sides after opening-day defeats.
Ivory Coast's Elye Wahi denied entry to Canada at World Cup amid betting probe
Ivory Coast striker Elye Wahi, who is under investigation for alleged betting-related offences, has not been authorized to travel to Canada for his team's next World Cup match against Germany, the Ivorian soccer federation said on Thursday.
World Cup formations, explained: A look at how coaches are setting up their squads
GUADALAJARA, Mexico: It’s number-crunching time when it comes to formations at the World Cup. Every team start with a goalkeeper in front of the net, but then it’s up to the 48 coaches to try to arrange their lineups to optimize their players and match up effectively with opponents. On paper, the lists may look more like area codes, phone numbers or lottery combinations: 4-4-2, 5-3-2, 4-2-3-1 and so on. But it’s all about how coaches set up their 10 field players, with some of them focusing more on attacking, others on containing a tough opponent or maybe trying to capitalize on the talent of a star player. Coaches tend to have preferred formations, but it’s not unusual for them to change them depending on opponents or even during matches to secure a lead or reverse a deficit. Coaches frequently start a match with one scheme and finish it with another. Here’s a look at the nine formations used in the opening matches of World Cup group play, according to FIFA’s match reports, and what they mean: The traditional (4-4-2) Four defenders, four midfielders and two forward. That was used by 12 of the 48 teams involved in the first 24 matches at the World Cup.