One tough match for both teams, Holland and Ivory Coast will play, one for survival in the World Cup and the other to be sure they qualify before the final game, against Argentina.

Arouna Kone’s three seasons in the Netherlands have given him the perfect inside line on how to stop the Dutch masters who painted such a pretty picture in overcoming Serbia and Montenegro 1-0 in their opening match.

“I already know the Dutch team very well but we will analyse the Serbia and Montenegro game on video and I’ll be able to help point out their strengths and weaknesses,” said the striker, who is hoping to start the match after coming on for the last 13 minutes of the Elephants’ opening 2-1 loss against Argentina. “Just like Cote d’Ivoire, the Dutch team is young but they also have some more experienced players like (Ruud) Van Nistelrooij and (Phillip) Cocu.”

The most important player fron the Dutch team is, in Kone’s opinion, Arjen Robben.

Not surprisingly after his man-of-the-match performance against Serbia and Montenegro, Dutch winger Arjen Robben is the man Kone singles out as the one to watch. “Robben is probably the most important player in their team,” said the 22-year-old. “In their first match, all attacks were led by him. There’s no doubt he is a great player, but he’s not the only important player to watch out for. I know (Robin) Van Persie well from our teenage years. He had huge potential then and he’s worked hard to develop that talent.”

While Dutch supporters will be in the majority in Stuttgart, Kone is confident African supporters will contribute their part. “It will be a great atmosphere,” he predicted. “Everyone will be wearing orange.”

Along with Serbia and Montenegro, Côte d’Ivoire prop up Group C, trailing the Netherlands and Argentina by three points after the first game.

Source: WCoffsite