Ivory Coast’s golden generation chokes again

Yet another big tournament heartbreak for Drogba & Co.

As Georgios Samaras of Greece dispatched a penalty in the final seconds of the game to take his team to the Round of 16, thus condemning Ivory Coast to yet another early World Cup exit, it was hard to avoid a sense of deja vu. This golden generation of Ivory Coast players – plying their trade at some of the top European clubs – failed to inspire their team at yet another international tournament. After finding themselves in tough groups in the last two World Cups, the draw was kinder to them this time. While Colombia were always considered the group favourites, Ivory Coast were expected to hold off Greece and Japan. It was not to be.

To paint Ivory Coast’s exit as unlucky wouldn’t be true. They had their place in the next round sealed in the 92nd minute, but Giovanni Sio’s needless clip on Samaras in the penalty box in the 93rd minute was completely uncalled for and needless. It compounded a day of misery for the Elephants as both the goals they conceded were a result of individual errors. The first goal by Samaras came as a result of Cheick Tiote’s under-hit routine pass to Kolo Toure- a sign of nerves from the African giants. Even after the goal, Greece continued to be the better side as they hit the woodwork twice.

Wilfried Bony, who came on as a substitute, seemed to have sealed the deal when he clinically finished a left-footed, perfectly weighted through ball from Gervinho – Ivory Coast’s best player. But it was not to be. It’s fair to say that Ivory Coast choked in the face of pressure and it was not completely unexpected. This “golden generation” of players has been choking in big tournaments for quite some time now.

Even if we discount the last two World Cup finals where they were part of difficult groups, their performances in the Africa Cup of Nations confirms this. Take the 2013 tournament. Having entered the tournament as one of the favourites and breezing past the group stages, they fell at the quarter finals stage to eventual winners Nigeria. Individually, Ivory Coast had the better players;collectively they did not click. A year earlier, they had suffered more heartbreak in the same tournament.

In 2012, Ivory Coast were the clear favourites to win the tournament and made it to the final without conceding a goal and breaking a sweat. Here, a power packed side featuring Drogba, Gervinho, Yaya Toure and Kalou failed to get past a resolute Zambian side comprising journeymen players. Ivory Coast did not concede a goal but lost 8-7 on penalties.

It was the same story in the 2010 competition where they lost 2-3 to underdogs Algeria in extra time at the quarter final stage. In that match too, Ivory Coast took a 2-1 lead in the 89th minute only to concede a goal two minutes later and then in extra time. In 2008, they lost 4-1 to eventual champions Egypt in the semifinal. In 2006, they suffered a penalty shoot-out heartbreak at the hands of Egypt in the final. What is also noticeable is the gradual decline in performances since 2006.

It was in 2006 that this golden generation of players came together and since then they have not been able to handle the increased expectations that come with being Africa’s best players. All these results were “achieved” with the same group of players. Predictably, the manager becomes the scapegoat for every defeat. Sabri Lamouchi – already considered not experienced enough to handle dressing room “egos” – will leave the job after this exit.

François Zahoui was replaced after the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations. Zahoui in turn replaced Sven Goran Eriksson after the group-stage exit at the 2010 World Cup. Vahid Halilhodži? led an unbeaten qualifying run to the 2010 World Cup and the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations but the shock exit to Algeria accounted for him. Henri Michel was replaced after the 2006 World Cup exit. In all this, the only constant has been the “golden generation” which has underperformed in every tournament.

Maybe, it’s best for the golden generation – especially the older players – not to stick around any longer and make way for new talent. Any which way, it’s going to be difficult to get rid of the choker tag.