Group G

[Inchpräctice]

Come on EBOUEEEE!

[TheLittleMozart]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/footbal ... 722701.stm

Ivory Coast's Didier Drogba has been given clearance to wear a protective cast on his broken right arm in Tuesday's game against Portugal.

Football's world governing body Fifa made the decision prior to the first Group G match of the World Cup.

The Chelsea striker's involvement in South Africa had been in doubt after suffering the injury in a friendly against Japan on 4 June.

Fifa said that Tuesday's referee Jorge Larrionda had permitted the cast.

The organisation's head of media Nicolas Maingot added: "The cast has been seen by the Portuguese delegation at Monday's match co-ordination meeting."

The 32-year-old required surgery after fracturing his arm in Sion, Switzerland, in a collision with Japan defender Marcus Tulio Tanaka - three minutes after the forward had opened the scoring with a 13th-minute deflected free-kick.

Afterwards, Ivory Coast coach Sven-Goran Eriksson refused to blame Tanaka for the incident.

"It was unlucky," the 62-year-old former England boss said at the time.

"It wasn't bad or stupid. He didn't want to hurt anyone. Football is a game of contact."

At the 1970 World Cup, Germany defender Franz Beckenbauer wore a sling in the semi-final against Italy having dislocated his shoulder during the match, while England striker Gary Lineker sported a cast to protect a broken wrist during the 1986 competition.

Drogba has been cleared to play if he's fit, which will be a massive boost for the Ivory Coast if he does play, even if only for 20 minutes.

[StLGooner]

I predict Ivory Coast to beat Portugal.

[Fabrestuta]

I predict Ivory Coast to beat Portugal.

And Eboue to flatten lady boy.

[SE13]

I predict Ivory Coast to beat Portugal.

And Eboue to flatten lady boy.

[Inchpräctice]

I predict Ivory Coast to beat Portugal.

And Eboue to flatten lady boy.

I just want to see that oily prick cry again. I'd pay anything to see that.

[SE13]

I predict Ivory Coast to beat Portugal.

And Eboue to flatten lady boy.

I just want to see that oily prick cry again. I'd pay anything to see that.

Well, if Eboue can throw a stinking dive somewhere near to Nancy he could get the pencil necked grease mop sent off. Life would be sweet.

[StLGooner]

I predict Ivory Coast to beat Portugal.

And Eboue to flatten lady boy.

I just want to see that oily prick cry again. I'd pay anything to see that.

Hopefully Drogba and Gay boy run into each other at full speed and knock each other out.

[Inchpräctice]

I predict Ivory Coast to beat Portugal.

And Eboue to flatten lady boy.

I just want to see that oily prick cry again. I'd pay anything to see that.

Hopefully Drogba and Gay boy run into each other at full speed and knock each other out.

Or even better, someone simultaneously tackles both of them, they both dive like they've been shot and accidentally smash their skulls together and pass out. When they wake up they both get straight reds for diving and 5-match bans.

[SE13]

Either way, let's hope for some football rather than snoozing the afternoon away.

[Fabrestuta]

Just been announce Dogreath is starting on the bench.

[Fabrestuta]

OH MY GOD. On ESPN they are talking about lady boy and they said he was awarded the golden shoe....its the golden boot you t**t

[gooneritis]

i'd just love eboue to dive in a two footed tackle on ronaldo as another ivory coast player does the same from the other side, leaving his left leg looking like eduardo's after birmingham and his right like ramseys!

[SE13]

OH MY GOD. On ESPN they are talking about lady boy and they said he was awarded the golden shoe....its the golden boot you t**t

Could be worse, we have ITV waffling on about Sven, and Gareth Southgate ripping him to shreds!

[Fabrestuta]

Even without Dogbreath Ivory Coast has a good team. On paper its better than Portugals.