Both the Ivory Coast and Greece still have it all to play for in their third and final group match. The Ivorians, one of our World Cup sleeper picks this year, can still finish anywhere from first to third depending on how things play out, while Greece can improbably still qualify despite going scoreless in its first two games.
As highlighted in our Group C preview, Greece’s all-defense, no-offense construction has them on the brink of elimination. But can they spring a 2004-style surprise and make it through to the last 16? Check out our preview of the other Group C game on Tuesday, Colombia vs. Japan, to get the complete picture of how this group could play out, and read on for analysis of this big time Group C match.
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Ivory Coast vs. Greece, World Cup 2014, Group Stage Betting Preview and Prediction
For the Ivory Coast, a win secures qualification. They can still top the group with a win and a Colombia loss, and they somehow end up with a better goal difference than Colombia. A draw and a Japan win by a one-goal margin still sees them through.
For Greece, a win over the Ivory Coast can still send them through, but only if Japan loses to Colombia.
Betting on Ivory Coast
The Ivory Coast gave the Colombians all they could handle for over an hour, but the quality of Colombia’s attack was too much to contain for the full 90 minutes. Despite the defeat, there were still some very good takeaways for the Elephants to gain for their important match against Greece.
[sc:Soccer240banner ]Their midfield shield of Cheick Tiote and Serey Die was instrumental in keeping the likes of James Rodriguez and Juan Cuadrado from totally controlling the game. They won’t face nearly as much pressure from Greece’s feeble offense, but their ability to win the ball back should ensure that the Ivorians have the lion’s share of possession.
With the threat of Greece’s attack virtually nonexistent, the Elephants should have the freedom to bear down on the Greeks’ goal all game long. Wilfried Bony is a battering ram-type forward whose physicality will trouble the Greek defenders, while the threat of super sub Didier Drogba is a potential ace in the hole if things stay scoreless later in the game.
The Ivorians should also expect a strong performance from speedy winger Gervinho, who has been their most lethal weapon of the tournament thus far. Gervinho has been in terrific form with two goals in two games, and the incision he should offer against Greece’s stubborn defense will be very valuable.
Betting on Greece
Unless some Greek deity decides to intervene against the Ivory Coast, a repeat of Greece’s amazing European championship triumph of ten years ago seems very unlikely.
The Greeks’ punchless offense has once again been severely lacking all tournament long. They join fellow strugglers Cameroon as the lone teams without a single goal through two games. That already-suffering strikeforce received yet another blow as lead striker Kostas Mitroglou was withdrawn in the first half against Japan with injury.
It’s hard to see where the goals will come from in this team without Mitroglou. Giorgios Samaras has tried his best to be an attacking threat, but without the cutting edge in front of goal, his efforts have mostly been in vain.
As much as Greece would like to go all-out in attack, they simply don’t have the talent and the quality to make much of a difference. They may just be content to continue on with their very defensive gameplan to keep themselves in the game and simply hope to score from a set piece.
However, keeping the Ivorians out will be made more difficult with the absence of their captain and key midfielder Kostas Katsouranis, who will be suspended after receiving a red card against Japan.
Writer’s Prediction
The Ivorians (-101) eventually break through the stubborn Greek defense in a tight contest to seal qualification. Create a betting account and put yourself in a position to profit on what is a critical game in Group C.
