Ivory Coast ready to make history against Argentina

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

HAMBURG, June 9: Ivory Coast's opening World Cup game against Argentina tomorrow is the African team's final, according to coach Henri Michel.

''This is D-day for us, this will be our final,'' Michel told reporters ahead of the Group C match. ''But we are ready for D-day and ready to make history.

''This is the key game for us. If we beat Argentina we can go a long way.'' Debutants Ivory Coast are playing in one of the toughest first-round sections alongside Netherlands and Serbia&Montenegro.

Former France captain Michel is no stranger to the pressures of a World Cup.

After coaching his home nation to the gold medal at the 1984 Olympics, the 58-year-old led France to the World Cup semi-finals two years later.

Michel also steered Cameroon and Mexico to the finals in 1994 and 1998 respectively.

He was in charge of Tunisia when they qualified for the last World Cup in Japan and South Korea but left before it kicked off following a poor African Nations Cup.

''Reaching the semi-finals with France was special and Cameroon and Morocco was a different generation of players,'' said Michel.

''But this group now is special and is maybe the most talented so we can do very well.'' Michel put his squad through their paces in bright sunshine at Hamburg's AOL Arena on Thursday evening.

''We have no injuries. Our preparation has been perfect and we are ready now,'' he said.

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REUTERS

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