France have never lost against the Elephants of Côte d'Ivoire
This Friday evening (9:15 p.m.), at the Stade Vélodrome, the France team will face Côte d'Ivoire for the third time in its history.
The first confrontation between the two selections dates back to August 17, 2005. That day, in a friendly match, the Blues of Raymond Domenech had largely imposed themselves thanks to the achievements of William Gallas, Zinédine Zidane and Thierry Henry.
But above all, this match marked the return to the national team of "Zizou", Lilian Thuram and Claude Makélélé, all three of whom came out of international retirement to help France qualify for the 2006 World Cup. The second confrontation between the two countries, it is more recent.
It was November 15, 2016, at the Bollaert Stadium.
The match then ended in a draw (0-0).
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Ivory Coast, a solid team
The Blues should not underestimate the Elephants of Côte d'Ivoire.
If it did not particularly shine during the African Cup of Nations this winter - eliminated in the round of 16 by Mohamed Salah's Egypt after penalties - the selection led by Patrice Beaumelle remains on a good series .
She has lost only one of her last 16 matches (10 wins and 5 draws).
It was against Cameroon, on November 16, during CAN qualifications (0-1).
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Figaro
SEE ALSO -
The training of the Blues before facing Côte d'Ivoire
Two victories in the African Cup of Nations
Given the quality of the players it has, especially since the 2000s, the continental record of Côte d'Ivoire is surprising.
Indeed, the Elephants, considered for at least two decades as one of the best selections of CAF, have "only" two victories in the African Cup of Nations.
The first dates back to 1992. The Ivorians then won after a penalty shootout against Ghana.
The second dates back to 2015...again against Ghana and once again following a long penalty shootout.
Côte d'Ivoire has also lost twice in the final of the competition: in 2006, against Egypt after penalties, and in 2012 against Zambia, again in the final exercise.
Furthermore, the Elephants,
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A French coach...
It's (almost) a homecoming for Patrice Beaumelle.
Born in Arles, passed by ES Le Grau-du-Roi, the 43-year-old technician will be on the Ivory Coast bench this Friday evening at the Stade Vélodrome, in Marseille.
Faithful assistant to Hervé Renard with Zambia, Côte d'Ivoire, LOSC and Morocco, he took off in March 2020 - after a short experience as coach of Zambia in 2013-2014 - taking the direction of the Elephants.
A mixed experience for the moment: even considering the elimination after penalties against Egypt during the last African Cup of Nations as a defeat, his record is rather satisfactory with no less than 10 victories, 6 matches draws and 3 losses;
in contrast,
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...and knowledgeable Ligue 1 players
Against the France team, Côte d'Ivoire should present a very good team...with in particular many players known to Ligue 1 followers. who have passed into the French elite.
To name a few: Serge Aurier (Toulouse FC, Paris Saint-Germain), Hassane Kamara (Stade de Reims, OGC Nice), Jean-Michaël Seri (OGC Nice, Girondins de Bordeaux), Max-Alain Gradel (AS Saint-Etienne, Toulouse FC) and Nicolas Pépé (SCO Angers, LOSC).
For his part, Sébastien Haller, second top scorer in the 2021-2022 edition of the Champions League just behind Robert Lewandowski, has never played in the first division in France.
However, he was trained in
