Elephants eye physical exchanges

COLOMBIA are planning a possession game to combat the speed and power of Ivory Coast when the two sides meet in Brasilia today.

It is a Group C match in which there is everything to gain for two sides who began their World Cup campaigns with victories.

Colombia top the group after a dominant 3-0 victory over Greece, while Ivory Coast hit back from a goal down to beat Japan 2-1.

The Japanese struggled to make their high-tempo, high-energy gameplan work against the Africans but Colombia midfielder Fredy Guarin says his side will look to beat the Elephants' physical advantages by making the ball do the work.

A win for either side would potentially secure passage into the last 16, depending on the result between Japan and Greece. Although he did not say as much, Guarin suggested Colombia would be happy to settle simply for a clean sheet.

The physical approach Ivory Coast are likely to bring could include the presence of Didier Drogba up front after his game-changing entry off the substitutes' bench against Japan. Wilfried Bony had a disappointing game on his own up front, and after the game Elephants coach Sabri Lamouchi paid tribute to his veteran forward.

"Didier changed the game. He brought in players (to mark him) and the team created favourable situations," the coach said,

The main plus for the Africans, though, is that after group stage elimination in 2006 and 2010, at least this time they have begun their campaign with a victory. – AFP