Preview: Côte d’Ivoire – Portugal

(GSM) – A tantalizing tie awaits in Port Elizabeth on Tuesday as Group G play begins in the World Cup with a tie between Côte d’Ivoire and Portugal.

The Ivorians have been the focus of much speculation ahead of the game as star striker Didier Drogba’s fitness has been in question since breaking his arm in a pre-Cup friendly against Japan.

Despite the injury, he is expected to be in the squad, though manager Sven-Göran Eriksson will not confirm his status for the game.

After being dumped out in the group stage in 2006, the Ivorians will be desperate to put on a better show on African soil, and it is expected that the crowd at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium will be strongly on the side of the Elephants..

Aside from the worries over Drogba, Eriksson is expected to name a strong, full-strength XI to face the Portuguese.

On that side, Portugal manager Carlos Queiroz lost midfielder Nani to injury before the tournament, and he is not with the team in South Africa.

Much of the team’s success will rest on if Cristiano Ronaldo can be at his best despite having some injuries during the season with Real Madrid.

He, along with Simão and Deco, will provide a ton of experience for Portugal in attack.

It should be a great matchup and a tight match the entire way.