When Ivory Coast manager Sabri Lamouchi announced his list of 28 provisional players to potentially leave for Brazil, he relied heavily on players with experience in the English Premier League. In fact, one fourth of the nominated players have experienced football in England's top flight championship.
The inclusion of both Toure brothers should come as no surprise, especially since their clubs occupied the first and second place respectively in the Premier League this season.
The addition of Swansea striker Wilfred Bony has left fans curious about how Ivory Coast's attack will perform. With Bony, Newcastle United's Cheik Tioté and former Chelsea players Salomon Kalou and Didier Drogba, the Elephants should have enough fire power to gun down their opponents' backline at the World Cup.
Despite his age, no defense is safe when Didier Drogba is around
Another player with experience in the Barclays Premier League is Gervinho, who had an incredible season at Roma after quitting Arsenal, last summer.
Great things are expected from Gervinho in Brazil
Amongst the newsworthy absentees there are former Arsenal defender Emmanuel Eboué, and the Genclerbirligi midfielder Gosso Gosso.
OFFICIAL - Ivory Coast name 28 man provisional World Cup squad. pic.twitter.com/olNtCdrGnj
— World Cup 2014 (@Brazil14WC) May 13, 2014
Sabri Lamouchi will guide the Ivory Coast through the upcoming World Cup
Group C will see Ivory Coast face Greece, Colombia, and Japan this summer
Ivory Coast's provisional man-squad:
Goalkeepers: Copa Barry, Gbohouo Sylvain, Sayouba Mandé, Badra Ali.
Defenders: Kolo Touré, Bamba Souleyman, Jean Daniel Akpa Akpro, Arthur Boka, Serge Aurier, Brice Dja Djédjé, Didier Zokora, Benjamin Angoua Brou, Ousman Vieira.
Midfielders: Cheik Tioté, Yaya Touré, Romaric, Max-Alain Gradel, Ismaël Diomandé, Didier Ya Konan, Constant Djakpa, Geoffroy Serey Dié.
Strikers: Wilfried Bony, Didier Drogba, Gervinho, Giovanni Sio, Seydou Doumbia, Lacina Traoré, Salomon Kalou.
Badra Ali, Brice Dja Djédjé, Benjamin Angoua Brou, Romaric, Seydou Doumbia, and Lacina Traoré did not make their country's final 23-man squad. Surprise Mathis Bolly was a last-minute addition by manager Lamouchi.
