(2006年6月21日)

　　C組的兩支球隊塞黑隊和科特迪瓦隊，目前已經無望晉級第二輪的比賽。但是雙方都表示，輸給荷蘭與阿根廷的比賽，並沒有展現出他們的真實水平。最後一場比賽，事關球隊的榮譽，雙方都不願意成為小組中的墊底球隊，因此，他們會全力進攻，力爭打出一場精彩的比賽，獻給他們可能會離任的主教練和球迷。

　　鏈結：http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/060620/1/7xre.html

　　原文：Fallen duo aim to go out on high

　　21 June 2006

　　by FIFAworldcup.com

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　　The FIFA World Cup? Stadium in Munich will host one of the final two Group C games with Serbia and Montenegro taking on C?te d’Ivoire in perhaps the most spectacular arena at Germany 2006. Both teams will be keen to demonstrate that defeats by Argentina and the Netherlands were not a true reflection of their ability. With pride very much at stake and neither side wishing to finish bottom of the group, it promises to be an open, attacking game.

　　Team colours

　　C?te d’Ivoire: orange shirts, orange shorts, and orange and green socks

　　Serbia and Montenegro: blue shirts, white shorts and red socks

　　How things stand

　　C?te d'Ivoire began their Germany 2006 campaign with a narrow defeat by Argentina. The West Africans performed admirably and were only outwitted by the greater experience of Jose Pekerman’s men. It was a similar story against the Netherlands, with the Elephants conceding two early goals and then spending the rest of the match vainly trying to playing catch-up. Bakary Kone’s marvellous strike reduced the deficit and instilled new belief, but the Africans were once again undone by their lack of experience in a game they probably deserved to draw.

　　Serbia and Montenegro’s tournament also began with a defeat, in their case against the Oranje, despite their being more than a match for Marco van Basten’s men. As for their second game, the less said about that the better as far as the Plavi are concerned. Their dramatic 6-0 reverse at the hands of Argentina was the heaviest defeat of the finals thus far, and a fair reflection of the dominance shown by the South Americans.

　　Past meetings

　　The two teams have never played each other before.

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　　The duel

　　Unfortunately suspension will deprive fans of a glimpse of two key players, Didier Drogba of C?te d’Ivoire and Serbia and Montenegro's Mateja Kezman. However, one intriguing battle in the offing is that between the two midfield generals Didier Zokora for Henri Michel’s men and Predrag Djordjevic of the Balkan team.

　　Saint-Etienne playmaker Zokora makes the Elephants tick with his vision and incisive passing game, while Djordjevic, who plays his club football with Olympiacos, has been one of the few Serbia and Montenegro players to have done himself justice at the FIFA World Cup. Without his overall contribution, the Plavi might have suffered even more than have already.

　　What they're saying

　　Henry Michel, C?te d’Ivoire coach: Our main problems have been inexperience and the pressure associated with a World Cup finals debut. Drogba’s physical problems have also been a hindrance. I’ll probably use some squad members who haven’t played yet. Wednesday’s will be my last game on the C?te d’Ivoire bench, my African football adventure is over.

　　Ilija Petkovic, Serbia and Montenegro coach: We must put in a good performance in our last World Cup game to salvage some pride. The lads must give everything. I’m disappointed with the way our tournament has gone, but that’s football. We’ve done well in the last few years. Whatever happens on Wednesday, it will be my last match on the Serbia and Montenegro bench.

　　作者-岳東興-北京第二外國語學院-英語系

責編：佟杉杉