Both sides got off to a great start to their World Cup campaign: Colombia kicked things off with a 3-0 victory over Greece in Belo Horizonte while Ivory Coast overturned a one-goal deficit against Japan to win 2-1. That means a win for either side on Thursday could see them through to the knockout stage of the tournament if Japan vs Greece on the same day would end in a draw.
Colombia should welcome Fredy Guarin back to the starting line up as he returns from suspension, but striker Carlos Bacca will remain on the sidelines with a muscle injury. Didier Drogba was on the bench for the inaugural match against Greece but his positive impact in the second half might grant him a place in the starting eleven this time, probably replacing Swansea striker Wilfried Bony.
The starting line-ups should look like this:
Colombia: Ospina - Zapata, Yepes, Sanchez, Armero - Zuniga, Aguilar, Rodriguez, Cuadrado, Ibarbo - Gutierrez
Ivory Coast: Barry - Boka, Aurier, Serey, Bamba - Zokora, Tiote, Yaya Toure - Gervinho, Kalou, Drogba
My prediction: Colombia to win 2-1.
Here are the odds for the match at Bet365:
Colombia win - 11/10
Draw - 5/2
Ivory Coast win - 11/4
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