The True Football Manager

Posted: 02 Jul 2009 11:05 PM PDT

I have some good news today about Ivory Coast national team I manage. The team was invited to Confederations Cup as African Cup winner. And we managed to get bronze among such great teams as Holland, Argentina, Brazil, England.

Confederations Cup results

My group was almost the same as Ivory Coast's group in the World Cup 2006. You should remember that they had Argentina and Holland as well. In my case there was only distinction - Australia instead of Serbia and Montenegro.

You see very unexpected results in the both groups actually. My guys displaced Argentina (it was very tough 2:2 draw with them) and USA managed to be better than England.

Brazil was waiting us in the semi-final. We surprised a football community again - it was equal game. We had 3-4 real goal moments but Gomes (their main goalkeeper) performed fantastically. And Ramires from my Hull scored a decisive goal on the last minute of the match Confused . He came to be a real patriot Happy .

The final game against USA was our chance to win the 3rd place of the tournament. And my players showed Americans how to play quick football scoring 3 unanswered goals!

But for me the best match of the tournament is the one versus Holland national team. Holland has better players than Ivory Coast – that's for sure. Huntelaar scored long shot during the first 20 minutes of the match. Though my guys had an advantage during the rest of the match and scored 3 good headers: 2 from corners by Kolo Toure and 1 from cross by Boubacar Sanogo.

Kolo Toure was a hero of this match and the whole Confederations Cup as well. Unfortunately he got the red card and missed very important game against Brazil. By the way, Didier Drogba missed all matches apart from the first one due to injury…

Best players of Ivory Coast

Kolo Toure is the best goal scorer of the tournament!!! Big Grin 4 goals from corners using his magic head and ability to win air! I cannot forget about Sanogo – he showed everyone that attack of Ivory Coast can do goals without Didier Drogba in match of any complexity. Cowboy

Salomon Kalou is always important player for our team. His dribbling and ability to think before passing does a lot for Ivory Coast team.

World rankings

Meantime Ivory Coast became the 6th in World Rankings. Do you believe this? Winking

Finally I would like to notice that my team deserved this success. Equal matches with Brazil and Argentina and victories over Holland, USA and Australia prove this!