Ivory Coast v Serbia and Montenegro - Preview

Elephants trumpet pride ahead of Serbia clash

African Nations Cup finalists Ivory Coast have their hearts set on a victory in their final World Cup appearance Wednesday against the demoralised and depleted Serbia and Montenegro side.

(From L to R) Ivorian Kolo Toure, Argentinean Gabriel Heinze and Nicolas Burdisso and Ivorian Arouna Kone fight for an aerial ball during the 2006 World Cup group C football game Argentina vs. Ivory Coast, 10 June 2006 at Hamburg stadium. AFP PHOTO DDP/JOCHEN LUEBKE

Coach Henri Michel's message to his players is simple: "To show that we cannot leave like that," said Michel, who has signalled that it was likely to be his last game with the "Elephants".

"We have just one match left and we don't want to spoil it," said defender Kolo Toure.

"We want to beat Serbia and Montenegro to bow out with our heads held high."

Both squads have lost hope of qualifying from Group C after succumbing to favourites Argentina and the Netherlands, and are likely to be rudderless when their managers leave after their final games in Germany.

Despite the shared fate, their form on the field and spirit differ sharply.

On their first World Cup appearance, the "Elephants" conceded narrow 1-2 scorelines to two of the most experienced nations in the tournament and closely rivalled Group C's favourites in each match.

If they draw, they will come a creditable third after Serbia-Montenegro's goal difference suffered with the 0-6 humiliation by Argentina.

Ivorian forward Didier Drogba (R) celebrates after scoring during the 2006 World Cup group C football game Argentina vs. Ivory Coast, 10 June 2006 at Hamburg stadium. Argentina won 2 to 1. AFP PHOTO JOHN MACDOUGALL

The side will be without striker Didier Drogba, who picked up his second yellow card last week, in Munich.

But the west Africans need to sweeten Michel's bitterness and seek Africa's second success after Ghana's 2-0 victory over the Czech Republic.

"Everyone tells me this team plays great football. What's more important is the result. And the result was not good. We're out and that's the bottom line," said Michel, one of the most experienced managers in Germany.

"It means that Ivory Coast are still not at the level of the big teams at the World Cup."

Argentinian forward Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring as Serbia and Montenegro's goalkeeper Dragoslav Jevric (R) and Serbia and Montenegro's defender Milan Dudic (15) react during the FIFA World Cup 2006 group C World Cup football match Argentina vs Serbia-Montenegro, 16 June 2006 at Gelsenkirchen stadium. Argentina won 6-0. AFP PHOTO JUNG YEON-JE

His Serbian counterpart Ilija Petkovic, who was sharply criticised by top players, footed the blame for the Argentina's six goal frenzy and announced over the weekend he would not seek to renew his contract as coach once the team returns home.

But the injury-plagued Serb and Montenegrin players appeared demoralised after their drubbing by Argentina.

They failed to repeat the form that kept a virtually clean sheet in World Cup qualifying and had made them one of Europe's most incisive contenders.

The squad also suffered a severe blow with the training injury to full back Nemanja Vidic.

Meanwhile, the press in Serbia ripped into the team after the match against two times World Cup winners Argentina, speaking of a "disgrace".

"It turned out that the difference between the wishes and the capabilities of our team at this World Cup was too big," said the Vecernje Novosti daily.

Midfielder Ivan Ergic said: "To lose 6-0 is horrible, but we were not completely fit and we have had a lot of pressure put on us by the press and the media back home.

On the field, the Serbs will be blunted without their highly fancied striker, Mateja Kezman, who was sent off against Argentina.

Teams

Ivory Coast

Barry Boubakar; Kanga Akale, Emmanuel Eboue, Arthur Boka, Didier Zokora, Yaya Toure, Blaise Kouassi, Arouna Kone, Aruna Dindane, Cyrille Domoraud (capt), Kader Keita. Coach: Henri Michel

Serbia and Montenegro

Dragoslav Jevric; Ivan Ergic, Igor Duljaj, Goran Gavrancic, Mladen Krstajic, Dejan Stankovic (capt), Predrag Djordjevic, Nenad Djordjevic, Milan Dudic, Nikola Zigic, Sasa Ilic. Coach: Ilija Petkovic

Referee

Marco Rodriguez (MEX)