Exchanging tips about rolling around on the pitch? Pic via Eurosport.
Côte d'Ivoire 0
Portugal 0
Emmanuel Eboue played 88 minutes in Côte d'Ivoire's nil-nil draw with Portugal today, opening play in this year's "group of death." Eboue was solid (read: not noticeably terrible) in a match that featured a struggle between both sides' midfielders and few significant offensive chances.
Eboue was down injured at one point in the first half, having taken a nasty challenge from Portugal's Pedro Mendes. Mendes' cleats caught the back of Eboue's calf and the stretcher was brought onto the pitch, but Eboue remained in the match.
Neither side seemed willing to attack in this match, possibly out of fear of being burned on the counter. Many assumed that Brazil would run away with Group G, so with North Korea likely running away from Group G, this match would have likely decided second place in the group and a ticket to the next round; therefore, a tight, defensive battle felt unexpected and unfortunate.
Then again, after Brazil struggled a bit with the Communists, perhaps they won't run away with things.
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