Ivory Coast Faces a Must-Win Against Curacao With One Big Injury Question

Ivory Coast is one win away from making history. Beat Curacao on Thursday, and they punch a ticket to the World Cup knockout stage for the first time ever. Lose or draw, and they’re probably packing their bags.

It comes down to this because of how the Germany game ended. Ivory Coast had that one in the bag. Franck Kessie scored in the first half, and they held the lead until the 94th minute. Then Denis Undav scored twice in stoppage time, and suddenly the Elephants went from cruising to flailing. Brutal way to lose.

Coach Emerse Fae made five changes for that Germany match compared to the opener against Ecuador. He benched Nicolas Pepe, Elye Wahi, Bazoumana Toure, right back Guela Doue, and midfielder Seko Fofana. He started Amad Diallo on the wing and shifted to a 4-1-4-1. It almost worked. That’s the frustrating part.

Now Fae has to figure out whether to stick with that lineup or change it again. And there’s at least one forced move.

Singo Out, Doue Likely In at Right Back

Wilfried Singo picked up what looked like a bad injury against Germany but apparently avoided something serious. Still, the team is giving him rest. That means Guela Doue — brother of PSG star Desire Doue — will probably start at right back. Doue got the nod in the opener against Ecuador, so it’s not a panic switch.

Amad Diallo should keep his spot even though Germany’s Nathaniel Brown pretty much shut him down. Fae sees Amad as the team’s most dangerous attacker, and you don’t bench your best player in a must-win. Simon Adingra had a late miss that basically ended any debate about him starting. He’s a sub right now and that’s fine.

Yan Diomande has played both wings so far and is expected to stay in the XI. Pepe stays on the bench as a solid backup option.

Questions in Central Defense and Midfield

This is where it gets interesting. Evan Ndicka, the Roma center back, hasn’t played a single minute this tournament. But Odilon Kossounou mistimed a jump badly on Undav’s first goal, and Emmanuel Agbadou got turned way too easily on the second one. Either or both could sit. Fae has to decide whether Ndicka’s experience is worth the lack of match rhythm in a game this big.

Ibrahima Sangare played the lone defensive midfield role against Germany and actually did fine. Four tackles, two interceptions, three ball recoveries. That’s enough to keep the job. Kessie stays as the box-to-box threat, and Oulai Inao should start alongside him again.

Yahia Fofana made some good saves against Germany. He couldn’t do much about either Undav goal, so he’s the clear starter in goal.

One more thing worth watching: Ivory Coast has never advanced past the group stage at a World Cup. They’ve been to three before this — 2006, 2010, 2014 — and went home early each time. Curacao isn’t a powerhouse, but they’re dangerous as a low-pressure opponent with nothing to lose. This is the kind of game that gets weird fast.