Eriksson announces attacking squadSven-Goran Eriksson has named six forwards in Côte d'Ivoire's squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™. Chelsea duo Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou, Aruna Dindane, Seydou Doumbia, Gervinho and Emmanuel Kone have all made the cut.
Eriksson disclosed his final 23-man party from the team's base in Gstaad, Switzerland this morning.
The seven players who have been omitted are goalkeeper Vincent Angban, defender Abdoulaye Meite, midfielders Gilles Yapi Yapo and Emerse Fae, and forwards Bakari Kone, Kanga Akale and Lassina. Yapi Yapo, Fae and Kone all played for Les Elephants at Germany 2006.
Notable names who have made it to South Africa include defenders Emmanuel Eboue and Kolo Toure, and midfield duo Didier Zokora and Yaya Toure.
Eriksson's team have been drawn in the so-called 'group of death' with Brazil, Portugal and Korea DPR. The Ivorians will open their campaign against Carlos Queiroz's side on 15 June in Port Elizabeth.
Côte d'Ivoire squadGoalkeepers: Boubacar Barry (Lokeren), Daniel Yeboah (ASEC Mimosas), Aristide Zogbo (Maccabi Netanya)
Defenders: Sol Bamba (Hibernian), Arthur Boka (Stuttgart), Emmanuel Eboue (Arsenal), Siaka Tiene (Valenciennes), Kolo Toure (Manchester City), Guy Demel (Hamburg), Steve Gohouri (Wigan), Benjamin Angoua (Valenciennes)
Midfielders: Didier Zokora (Seville), Romaric (Seville), Cheick Tiote (FC Twente), Yaya Toure (Barcelona), Jean-Jacques Gosso (Monaco), Abdel Kader Keita (Galatasaray)
Forwards: Aruna Dindane (Lekhwiya), Seydou Doumbia (CSKA Moscow), Didier Drogba (Chelsea, Salomon Kalou (Chelsea), Gervinho (Lille), Emmanuel Kone (CFR Cluj).