So, after a disappointing quarterfinal exit, the Ivory Coast has parted ways with their head coach, Vahid Halilhodzic. Also, according to reports, Drogba and the federation have flirted with hiring Gus Hiddink, who currently is employed by Russia, then Turkey, but seems to have excellent time management skills and could probably lead a few other teams.
On the plus side, the federation did not immediately fire the coach. On the negative side, I’m not so sure I agree with this decision. The last coach led the Mighty Elephants to World Cup qualification and his squad selection was pretty good. Granted, he did inexplicably sub out Kalou in the quarterfinal game vs. Algeria, but one mistake-equals-fired is a pretty demanding standard.
In terms of Hiddink, many people paint the Dutchman as a play-off wizard. However, his “hold Barcelona scoreless for 180 minutes” approach vs. Barcelona in last season’s Champions League semi-finals did not work out. And his “park the bus” strategy for Russia’s second leg playoff failed miserably. Granted, both sides did well – but increasingly, Gus builds offensive teams that struggle to hold onto leads.
On a metal level, I can see why the Ivory Coast wanted to change coaches. The 4-3-3 formation led to some dazzling attacking football, but also left a soft center for long stretches. Against Algeria, the midfield slowly faded and then disappeared entirely, a troubling sign for a team with championship talent and aspirations.
Will the ‘Coast hire Hiddink? Maybe. Will one coach cause the locker room to magically unite and lead them to a World Cup title? Unlikely. But with a steady hand at the helm, a quarterfinal appearance is a definite possibility. Emphasis on definite. And possibility.
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