SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - WORLD CUP 2010 - Ivory Coast, Portugal soccer fans arrive to support their teams in their opening match

Record ID: 455269

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - WORLD CUP 2010 - Ivory Coast, Portugal soccer fans arrive to support their teams in their opening match
  • Date: 16th June 2010
  • Summary: FAN PAINTING HER FRIEND FACE WITH PORTUGUESE FLAG COLOURS VARIOUS OF THE FANS BLOWING VUVUZELAS PORTUGUESE FANS WITH FLAGS (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) PORTUGUESE SOCCER FAN MIGUEL SAYING: "I expect Portugal will win, I'm sure it will be a tough game we are not sure yet if Drogba will play, we hope not he's good striker but we also have great players in Europe and the World so I'm sure will beat Ivory Coast." WOMAN WITH HER FACE PAINTED WITH PORTUGAL FLAG CHANTING / FANS BLOWING VUVUZELAS
  • Embargoed: 1st July 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAAHL8LS4HUGHPWQTABJG6OSVGP
  • Story Text: Soccer fans from Ivory Coast and Portugal arrived on Tuesday (June 15) to the southern coastal city of Port Elizabeth to support their teams in their opening World Cup match in group G.
    Dozens of Ivory Coast Elephants supporters gathered in front of the stadium blowing their vuvuzelas and carrying their country flags.
    "Cote d'Ivoire will win this game, I believe so strongly that Africa will go to final and one of the teams will go to final is Cote d'Ivoire, and will beat Portugal and will win this match." Ivory Coast soccer fan Raymond said.
    Hundreds of Portuguese soccer fans seen gathering outside the stadium hours before the match.
    "I expect Portugal will win, I'm sure it will be a tough game we are not sure yet if Drogba will play, we hope not he's good striker but we also have great players in Europe and the World so I'm sure will beat Ivory Coast." Portuguese soccer fan Miguel said.
    The match in Port Elizabeth could dictate who advances from a tough section that also features five-times World Cup winners Brazil and the tournament's most unknown side North Korea.
    Portugal has a lot to prove after a patchy journey to the finals.
    FIFA said that a protective cast for Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba to play in Tuesday's World Cup Group G match against Portugal has been approved by the referee and the Portuguese.
    It had been assumed that Drogba, who fractured his forearm just before the finals started on June 11, would miss the match but on Monday Ivory Coast coach Sven-Goran Eriksson said he would leave it to Drogba to decide if he was fit enough.
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