World Cup 2014 Group C Analysis: Will the Ivory Coast Finally Get Past the Group Stage?

Can the Ivory Coast finally get out of the group stage at the World Cup?

While the African nation, which is often touted as a potential contender, has struggled in the big competition, they have a huge chance to take a big step thanks to a solid draw this year. Is the team capable of competing with the likes of Colombia, Japan and Greece?

History

The Ivory Coast has only managed to qualify for two tournaments in its history and has never gotten out of the group stage. The team first appeared in the tournament in 2006 and was seeded into a group that included Argentina, Netherlands and Serbia and Montenegro; many considered this group to be the "Group of Death" in the tournament as it featured two perennial favorites and a European nation that had been undefeated in qualifying (Serbia and Montenegro). The Ivory Coast lost its first game 2-1 against Argentina and was then eliminated from contention in a 2-1 loss against the Dutch. In the final match of the tournament, the Ivorians salvaged a win by defeating Serbia and Montenegro 3-2.

Four years later the team was also seeded into the Group of Death, which included Portugal, Brazil and lowly North Korea.

The Ivory Coast tied Portugal 0-0 but was defeated 3-1 by Brazil; the team then managed a 3-0 win over North Korea, but was unable to overcome Portugal's massive goal differential against North Korea and had to settle for third place.

How did they get here?

The team finished with a record of four wins and two draws in a group that included Morocco, Tanzania and Gambia. In the ensuing playoffs, the Ivorians were drawn into a matchup with Senegal. The team managed a 3-1 win in the first leg and followed that with a 1-1 draw on the road. Salomon Kalou led all of Ivory Coast's players with five goals in qualifying while Yaya Toure and Didier Drogba each added four goals in the tournament. Wilfried Bony also scored three goals in qualifying. Lacina Traore was the other goalscorer for the team.

Top stars

The team has a number of solid players but all eyes will be on Toure and Drogba. The two stars have had fantastic careers in Europe, particularly in the Premier League, and will likely be playing in their final World Cup ever. At age 36, Drogba will be among the oldest players in the tournament. He has scored 63 goals in 99 matches for the national team and has scored two goals in the World Cup. He scored a goal against Argentina in 2006 and followed it with a goal against Brazil in 2010; it should be interesting to see if he manages a goal against Colombia in the Group C considering that his other two goals came against South American competition.

Toure will be 31 by the time he arrives in Brazil. Is this his swan song? He has scored 16 goals in 82 matches for the Ivory Coast and is a tremendous playmaker. He has only scored one goal in the World Cup; it came in the 3-0 win over North Korea.

Can they get out of the group?

Colombia is seen as the favorite in the group considering the continental advantage. However, the team has not had a particularly lavish World Cup history and could falter in the group stage. Greece is a solid side, but hardly anything to fear. Japan is another solid team, but the Samurais have faltered in international games over the last year; the team was woeful in the Confederations Cup last summer and there is no reason to believe that Japan might not falter again.

Can they win the tournament?

The Ivory Coast could get out of the group but a deep run is unlikely; the team would need a miracle pairing in the round of 16; a first place finish in Group C will likely net the team a date with either Italy, England or Uruguay. A second place finish will likely yield a similar draw. Some believe the Ivorians can overcome any of these teams in a knockout game; we'd bet against that. 

Expect the Ivorians to finish in third place in their group. If they finish in the top two, then expect a round of 16 elimination.