PHILADELPHIA — Through two matches at the World Cup, Ivory Coast coach Emerse Fae believes his team’s play has been worthy of the knockout phase.
To reach the knockouts for the first time, the Elephants need to maintain that level on Thursday in the Group E finale against Curacao.
“I think the key is our ability to show the same seriousness, the same mindset, the same intensity that we showed against Ecuador and Germany,” Fae said on Wednesday evening, through an interpreter. “I think that if we respect our opponent and perform well in these different areas I just mentioned, I think we’ll have a chance of qualifying for the round of 32.”
The challenge may be as mental as it is physical after Ivory Coast let in Deniz Undav’s stoppage-time winner in their 2-1 loss to Germany on Saturday.
It could’ve been very different if Simon Adingra had done better with an excellent 88th-minute chance.
“Simon missed an opportunity like any football player,” Fae said. “Personally, I don’t blame him at all for that. And that’s what I told him. That’s what I told the group.
“I said that, personally, I don’t have a particular problem with technical errors. The most important thing for me was that he got back to work. Because he’ll score more goals for Ivory Coast.
“He’ll miss others, too, unfortunately. But actually, this action hasn’t changed my confidence in Simon at all.”
Fae declined to provide an update on defender Wilfried Singo, who left injured in the 82nd minute against Germany and seems likely to miss the Curacao match. Ivory Coast’s federation issued a statement saying post-match examinations were encouraging.
As for the Thursday opponent, Fae praised Curacao’s resilience.
“They showed it against Ecuador,” he said. “This is a team that, after a 7-1 defeat against Germany, managed to find the mental strength to draw (0-0) against Ecuador.
“They’re a very aggressive team. They have forwards who are capable of making a difference individually. They play with a lot of teamwork.
“We’re expecting a tough match tomorrow, like all World Cup matches, especially since their draw against Ecuador still gives them a chance to qualify for the second round.”
–Ian Nicholas Quillen, Field Level Media
