Key events
Some half-time reading for you:
In the other game Germany are still drawing 1-1 against Ecuador. There aere some discussions as to if Germany’s goal should have stood as there was a high boot in the build-up.
Half-time: Curaçao 0-1 Côte d’Ivoire
It is Pepe’s goal that is the difference between these two sides so far. Curaçao haave shown hints of what they can do but are yet to make it count on the scoreboard.
45 + 4 min: J Bacuna takes an initial corner but Bonny sees it out and so it is delivered again. The delivery is to the edge of the box but it’s well read and cleared.
45 + 3 min: L Bacuna is amongst most of the action right now and he has been fouled. He is also taking the resulting free kick but the delivery is a little short and it’s cleared.
45 + 1 min: There will be four minutes added.
45 min: That was the chance. Curaçao are building momentum and L Bacuna ends up in a good position but he can’t get it on target. To be fair to him, watching the replay it was a difficult angle to finish from.
44 min: Côte d’Ivoire win a corner as a cross is deflected out. Y Diomande delivers the ball but it’s easily cleared and Chong makes another break. However, a few passes later L Bacuna fouls Bonny and another chance is over.
42 min: Chong intercepts a pass high up but Côte d’Ivoire quickly wrestle it back to save their blushes.
40 min: Curaçao put together a great piece of play but again they lose the ball high up the pitch. It’s becoming a real issue for the side, they definitely could have been on the scoreboard. Curaçao come again, this time from Chong who has been excellent so far, but it’s wide.
38 min: Fouls are coming in left, right and centre now from both sides with Diallo caught by Floranus. Côte d’Ivoire have a free kick as a result but it comes to Room and the chance is gone.
36 min: Chong is fouled by Pepe to let some pressure off of their shoulders, they play it back to Room. The goalkeeper comes out and tries to catch the ball but he’s chased down and he decides to header it clear which almost becomes a howler but it’s safely cleared.
34 min: Côte d’Ivoire continue to dominate, they have had the majority of this game go exactly how they want it to.
32 min: L Bacuna delivers well but it’s headed clear. Curaçao keep up their momentum and Comenencia goes for the ball but collides with Fofana. Both remain on the ground for a while but they are okay to continue.
30 min: Côte d’Ivoire take it short but eventually pop it in, Curaçao manage to clear but it’s Côte d’Ivoire with possession once again. Curaçao just about hold on and counter to win their own corner.
29 min: L Bacuna makes a really well timed tackle in the box to alleviate some pressure for Curaçao. The side have had to absorb a lot of attack so far, they need to put their own stamp on this game. Instead they concede a corner.
27 min: Play is back underway and Gaari is okay to continue.
23 min: Back and forth the possession goes and it is Diallo who has the next chance. He whallops it goalward but it smacks Gaari in the face and he needs a minute to recover. The hydration break is also underway.
21 min: Fornville has a lovely break but as it the story for Curaçao so far, he is closed down by Pepe and Côte d’Ivoire build once again.
20 min: How has Diallo not scored there? I think it was Kessie who got in his teammate’s way, a frustration for Côte d’Ivoire. That was a wasted chance.
18 min: Côte d’Ivoire are so patient in their build-up play, some lovely touches amongst the action but eventually a pass is put out of play and Fofana can clear.
16 min: It was like they were reading my blog, Curaçao have some great passes around the box and Gaari pops a shot in that goes just wide.
14 min: Curaçao are able to create some great attack but thet are unable to keep possession in the final third, if they work out that part they will be a real threat here.
12 min: So as things stand it would be Côte d’Ivoire going through alongside the already qualifed Germany. Back to the action and Diallo makes a great recovery run to thwart a chance set up by J Bacuna.
10 min: Chong makes a break and gets in a good position but he gives it away cheaply and Côte d’Ivoire are able to clear. In the other game, Ecuador have equalised against Germany. This group is full of goals this evening.
This time Pepe makes it count. Curaçao can’t clear it with a bit of poor defending and Côte d’Ivoire pounce. A lovely finish and dance celebration.
GOAL! Curaçao 0-1 Côte d’Ivoire (Pepe 7)
That was a beauty.
6 min: Pepe had a chance but he could not get a clean shot away, this game has been high energy so far.
4 min: As the players get settled into this one, Peter has emailed his favourite World Cup moment so far:
For me, it is simple: Eloy Room’s incredible, stand-on-your-head-to-make-the-save playing for 90 minutes at Arrowhead Stadium against Ecuador. I’m a former keeper (my career peaked at a clean sheet in my university’s intramural championship, back in the days when dinosaurs roamed the earth), and I spent the whole match picking my jaw up off the floor. Diving to make a stop which bounces right to another attacker, then somehow twisting up and around to block that second shot – it’s got to be the hardest thing a goalkeeper has to do, and he did it multiple times!
I live in KC, and Arrowhead Stadium is known for the noise the fans of the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs can make as their team storms from behind at the end of the game. Watching the game that it, it felt like the whole crowd was behind Room the whole match, getting louder and louder as the match went on.
I have appreciated a myriad of great goalkeeping at this tournament, including the one you have highlighted. Also an update from the other game, Germany are 1-0 up.
2 min: Bonny pumps a chance up but it’s Curaçao’s Chong with the first chance on target, Fofana easily saves.
Kick-off: Curaçao 0-0 Côte d’Ivoire
Here we go then. Who will qualify? The next 90 minutes will determine that.
The players are out on the pitch now and the anthems are about to be sung, this match is almost about to begin.
This is a great read to have a look at before this one gets underway in 10 minutes:
This will be the guide to keep your eye on as the games continue:
What has been your best moment of the tournament so far? All of the shock results and historic moments are moments I enjoy, including Curaçao’s first World Cup point. Email me and let me know yours.
Have a read of our newsletter to catch up with the latest tournament headlines:
Curaçao have also had a historic tournament:
Here is how Côte d’Ivoire have performed so far:
Côte d’Ivoire line-up
Côte d’Ivoire have made four changes to the side who lost to Germany. Wilfried Singo, Emmanuel Agbadou, Ghislain Konan and Christ Inao Oulai all drop to the bench.
Côte d’Ivoire (4-4-2): Y Fofana; O Diomande, Kossounou, Operi, Doue; Kessie, Sangare; Bonny, Y Diomande, Diallo, Pepe. Subs: Kone, Lafont, Konan, Singo, Agbadou, Ndicka, Seri, S Fofana, Guiagon, Oulai, Adingra, Wahi, Diakite, Guessand, Toure.
Curaçao line-up
Curaçao have named their team to play in their final group match. The team have not made any changes from their last outing against Ecuador.
Curaçao (5-3-2): Room; Gaari, Floranus, Obispo, Brenet, Fonville; Comenencia, J Bacuna, Chong, L Bacuna, Locadia. Subs: Bodak, Doornbusch, Sambo, Van Eijma, Bazoer, Roemeratoe, Martha, Felida, Antonisse, Hansen, Noslin, Gorre, Margaritha, Kuwas, Kastaneer.
Jonathan Wilson
On Monday evening local time at New York New Jersey Stadium, Senegal will face Norway in a game that is not only crucial in terms of who qualifies from Group I, but will go a long way in determining how African performance at this World Cup is viewed.
This is not entirely fair – nobody can seriously doubt that Senegal are an extremely adept side, and it may be that the court of arbitration for sport decides that they are indeed the reigning African champions – but there is a sense that Africa could do with a big performance.
The other game in this group between Germany and Ecuador kicks off at the same time as this one, you can keep up with all the updates below. I will also bring you score updates from that match as it progresses:
Preamble
Hello and welcome to the Group E match between Curaçao and Côte d’Ivoire. This match will help decide who goes through alongside guaranteed group winners Germany.
Côte d’Ivoire need a win or a draw to secure second place in the group and qualification to the last 32. Curaçao also have a chance of going through but they would need to win today and for Ecuador to lose to Germany in the other game, which kicks off at the same time.
Despite Curaçao having a chance of making it to the knockout stage, Opta puts it at a very low percentage. They say they have a 71.6% chance of finishing bottom of the standings. But this is football, anything can happen.
We will come on to what has been said in the build-up, the line-ups and results happening around the tournament shortly. Remember you can also get in touch to share all of your thoughts, we’d love to hear from you.
Right let’s get this show on the road, shall we?
