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Wednesday, June 25, 2014

2014 FIFA World Cup - 13th Day - Group C GREECE VS CÔTE D'IVOIRE - First Half




It's a sunny weather in Estadio Castelao, Fortaleza for the Group C's second match.

Below are the highlights of the match between the Greeks and the Ivorians:






























STANDINGS - GROUP C




The two teams are out on the pitch and take their place for the national anthems. 

Greece's 'Hymn to Liberty' plays out first and the crowd sing along with the players.

The Côte d'Ivoire players are wearing black armbands in memory of Ibrahim Toure, brother of Yaya and Kolo, who sadly passed away last week. Sabri Lamouchi before the match said the brothers "made an extremely tough decision [to stay in Brazil] and I'm grateful to them for their courage.”

L'Abidjanaise plays out and the players, led by their captain Didier Drogba, sing passionately. Given the recent bereavement in the squad, it's a moving moment for all concerned.




































Côte d'Ivoire get us underway in Fortaleza.

Kone curls in a free-kick after Bamba raised his foot too high in the challenge. However, Torosidis impedes his marker, and it's a free kick.

The ball is played long up to Drogba who flicks on superbly to the advancing Gervinho. The Roma forward sprints on to the ball and tries to take on Manolas, but the Olympiacos defender shepherds it behind for a corner. The set piece is cleared by Kone.

The Greece No1, who hasn't conceded a World Cup goal for almost two hours, is replaced by PAOK stopper Glykos.




Greece
GREECE
GOALKEEPER
  • 2International Caps
  • 190Centimeters
  • Date of Birth10 Oct 1986
  • Current clubPAOK FC (GRE)

OFF THE BAR! Samaras sprints clear of the chasing Côte d'Ivoire defenders and plays in the left-back Cholevas. He gallops past the Ivorian defence and hammers a shot at goal. Barry is beaten by the superb right-footed effort, but it's back off the woodwork.

Karagounis steps up to hit the set piece after Die conceded the free-kick. He strikes it low at goal, but Barry collects.

The Côte d'Ivoire captain goes into the book after sliding in late on Samaris.

GOAL! SAMARIS! Samaras pounces on a short pass by Tiote and the No7 touches it onto Samaris. The substitute sprints through, composes himself and lifts it over the oncoming Barry. Greece are going through if the scores remain the same!


HALF TIME: It's the Greeks who lead at the interval thanks to substitute Andreas Samaris's first international goal. It's Greece's only goal of the World Cup so far, but it could be enough to send them into the Round of 16. As things stand, with Japan and Colombia level in Cuiaba, Greece would be in the knockout stages if the games were to finish as they are.


Greece
GRE
Côte d'Ivoire
CIV

STATISTICS

Ball possession
47%
53%
6Fouls Committed9
2Attempts On Target3
3Shots3
1Total Goals scored0
0Penalties scored0




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