(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Japan coach alberto zaccheroni lamented his team�s lack of intensity as they conceded two headers in three minutes to allow ivory coast to snatch all three points.
ivory coast’s didier drogba controls the ball during the match against japan. — afp
didier drogba again proved the talisman for the ivory coast’s come-from-behind victory over japan in their opening world cup game coach sabri lamouchi said after the 2-1 triumph in group c on saturday.
having left drogba on the bench lamouchi said his impact after coming on almost immediately engineering a winning turnaround as the africans scored twice in a three-minute burst was typical of the influence of the 36-year-old striker. japan took the lead early in the first half through keisuke honda but the introduction of didier drogba from the bench on the hour mark proved the catalyst for an ivorian comeback with wilfried bony and gervinho scoring to turn the game around. “having a player like drogba in the team either starting or as a replacement always has an effect on the team” he told reporters adding he had only told the captain he would be on the bench when they arrived at the stadium.
“of course drogba was disappointed to be on the bench but if you saw the joy when he finished the match - we need him and we will need everyone before the end of this tournament. “when drogba came on everything changed. part of leaving him on the bench was to do with strategy part of it was his fitness. the last time he played 90 minutes was a few months ago in turkey and he’s had an injury since then. “he has improved an awful lot in the last few weeks. he has made a lot of sacrifices to be at the world cup.
“we did not start very well in the game conceding the first goal because of a careless mistake” added lamouchi a former french international with only two years coaching experience. “but after that we made many chances. for us it was really important to get into the competition.
japan coach alberto zaccheroni lamented his team’s lack of intensity as they conceded two headers in three minutes to allow ivory coast to snatch all three points.
the italian said he would analyse the performances of both himself and the team to find out why they did not reach their usual level.
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