Ivory Coast 1-0 Mali: Yaya Toure plays higher and the Ivory Coast play better
The starting line-ups
Gervinho’s solo goal sets up a final between the Ivory Coast and Zambia.
Francois Zahoui made a couple of changes to the team that overcame Equatorial Guinea in the previous round. Siaka Tiene, Salomon Kalou and Cheick Tiote all returned.
Alain Giresse made changes to his attackers – both Abdou Traore and Modibo Maiga were dropped, with Samba Sow and Cheik Diabate coming in.
Opening stages
The Ivory Coast dominated the opening stages here, keeping the ball better and getting more men forward than in their previous games, making them much more of an attacking threat, both on the break and when Mali had men behind the ball.
The key to this was Yaya Toure, who was deployed high up the pitch as a number ten – sometimes ahead of Gervinho and Kalou – and in close support of Didier Drogba. Although he often picked the wrong pass in the final third, he provided the link between the midfield and the attack, helping to carry the ball and prevent the Ivory Coast becoming a broken team, as they often are when they play three central midfielders all broadly playing a defensive-minded job.
He was also a goal threat himself – he stormed forward to hit the post from the right of the box. This was the second time the Ivory Coast had hit the woodwork, with Drogba having headed against the post from a Tiene free-kick earlier. As they showed in the previous game, the Ivory Coast are particularly dangerous from dead ball situations, though here they weren’t so reliant on that approach.
The below diagram compares the positions Toure received the ball in this match and the game against Equatorial Guinea in the two first halves (because in the previous game he was pushed higher up the pitch at the break).
Countering
A lot of teams have depended upon counter-attacks in this tournament. Usually, the superior team dominates possession and the weaker side soak up pressure before breaking. Here, however, Mali played the ball very slowly when they won it and their main approach involved gradual build-up play followed by crosses from wide towards Cheick Diabate. The balls into the box were often high and overhit.
It was actually the Ivory Coast who were the bigger threat on the break, and with Gervinho and Kalou they had two players who loved running with the ball. Gervinho struck just before half-time. He’d looked a threat throughout the game, partly because Ousmane Berthe tried to stick very tight to Drogba – he picked up a booking early on – and left space behind him.
Creation
Toure’s involvement has already been covered, but for Mali it was Seydou Keita playing that role. It was notable that he had to keep coming deep to pick up the ball, and therefore wasn’t able to play passes into dangerous zones (although strangely, the pass for Gervinho’s winner was one of Toure’s passes from a deeper position.
It does rather illustrate the difference in creativity between the top sides in Africa and the top sides in Europe – that the two players deployed as creators here were used as much more functional players for Barcelona – Toure as a holder, Keita as an energetic midfield scrapper.
Little change
The problem with the game was that it didn’t really progress tactically. Gieresse took off right-winger Mustapha Yatabare, brought on Gerra Dembele and went to more of a 4-4-2 system, but then Yatabare had been the main player providing crosses, and Mali’s approach looked confused.
The Ivory Coast generally kept their back four and two holders in position and played a very structured game late on. It meant that they were solid and comfortable defensively. Mali were barely a threat, with only one shot on target throughout the game – many were blocked by the Ivory Coast, demonstrating the value of keeping men behind the ball.
Conclusion
Only one real point of interest in an otherwise underwhelming game. Toure played high up the pitch, and the Ivory Coast were a more complete side. They have Zokora and Tiote to sit – Toure must be used as an attacking midfielder to prevent the side becoming compartmentalised instead of cohesive.
Well Whaddya Know! Players play better for their countries when played in their club positions! Who’da thunk it?
What a mistake by that centre-back for the Cote d’Ivoire goal. How can you keep covering Drogba and let the opponent run unchallenged towards your goalkeeper. He should have met Gervinho, leaving Drogba to other defenders. It was as bad as the miscalculated interception of the ball by a right-back, that allowed Gervinho to start his run at all. And another mistake has been commited by the defensive midfielder who – at one moment of Gervinho’s run – slowed down and stopped tracing Drogba, what means that if the centre-back decided to meet Gervinho, Drogba would be free to receive a pass from Gervinho.
Can anyone tell me where i could get the statistics and data used for these charts?help would be greatly appreciated
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All this talk about African clubs lacking creative midfielders, and not being able to convert possession into chances, but is it really a distinctly African thing?
This issue of teams struggling to break down teams which park the bus is the exact same issue as we all discussed at the World Cup. In both that competition and this, if a team decided to play ultra defensively, the stronger team ended up struggling for goals and often took the lead through set pieces.
I suppose my point is, is the perceived lack of creativity a distinctly African issue, or is it just part of the larger trend in international football which seems to be towards counter attacking, reactive football (with a few notable and obvious exceptions)?
I thought this too although I think there is a lack of creativity with african teams at the moment I don’t think its unique. Its difficult to breakdown a well organised defensive unit and these type of tournaments (similarly the World Cup & the Euro’s as well probably) can seem stale if everyone is trying to sit deep and counter.
Knock out tournaments seem to benefit reactive counter attacking football. Spain in the world cup with Xavi and Iniesta didn’t score that many goals and relied upon a setpiece against Germany largely because teams sat deep against them.
I think if these tournaments where league based you’d probably see a different sort football played and perhaps a different result
Who is this punk Menez?
Wow, ZM, uber spammed.
In regards to the gentleman before, while it’s true that some international sides have struggled to break defenses, the problem in Africa is deeper.
None of their top players are creative / attacking midfielders. As this article demonstrates, two of the best sides in the whole tournament relied on players not known for creativity to be their main creative force.
Keita is usually played a s holder at Barca, and though he is a good passer, he is light years behind an Iniesta or Sneijder for an attacking midfielder.
Toure is another holding player, and he is a quality player, but again, as a main creative force…?
Even the best African sides are so starved for creativity they rely on players who in the scheme of world football don’t even play that role to be their main man.
Keita has only been recently used as a DM (this season). Previously, he had been regularly playing as one of CMs there. He obviously doesn’t have the technical ability of Xaviesta, but he has some good physical conditions and is still smarter than most of the players in the CAN, he has a powerful shot and is generally good in “destroying defences”. Why would anyone want to compare him to Sneijder (No.10) or Ineista (sui generis) anyways. He’s still the best pick for that position in the team.
ZM I know ignoring the very few number of people who try to ruin the message boards is the best form of dealing with it but this is particularly a problem. Is there any way you can start blocking offenders? Between Menez and Mourinho (if they’re different) they really ruin any discussion that could take place
It’s all in Mourinho’s master plan, isn’t it?
Very good performance from Ivory Coast, they really seem motivated to win this. They were excellent in defense with a clear structure, though they could get there fullbacks forward more. In midfield it was a much better performance, Tiote especially was very smart on the ball, keeping possession excellently and playing some good passes. Yaya also had a much better game that last, playing higher up and linking the attack and midfield, he was able to link up with Drogba, which allowed Ivory Coast to be fluent, while he also played some good passes when he dropped deep (surprising Mali maybe) and wasnt tracked (aka the goal). Up front, they seemed very fluid, with drogba a constant threat in the air, but also showing excellent movement to drag the CB’s around to create space, this was what happened with the goal, drogba dragged the CB out and Gervinho made a central run. This is key to Ivory Coast winning in the final, they need to goal sources from all over the pitch, which they do now with Drogba a threat in the air, Gervinho and Kalou a threat when making runs into the penalty area (as long a drogba creates space) and Yaya moving forward to take long shots or drive into the penalty area from deep. Cant see past a Ivory Coast win, though it would have been interesting to them play Ghana…
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