World cup schedule: Drogba on bench for Portugal vs. Ivory Coast, Ronaldo looms
Portugal vs. Ivory Coast is the match to watch on the World Cup schedule Tuesday (all coverage).
TUESDAY (June 15):
- New Zealand vs. Slovakia, 1:30 pm (7:30 am EST)
- Ivory Coast vs. Portugal, 4 pm (10 am EST)
- Brazil vs. North Korea, 8:30 pm (2:30 pm EST)
Ivory Coast vs. Portugal features two of the world's best soccer players. Ivory Coast's Didier Drogba is the sixth best player in the world, according to ESPN, while Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo is number 2.
Both featured on the June cover of Vanity Fair magazine, and in the Monitor's slideshow of Top 10 World Cup players to watch. But at kickoff it will be advantage Ronaldo. Drogba, still recovering from surgery, will start the match on the bench.
By now you've probably seen Mr. Ronaldo in Nike's 'Write the Future' commercial where his statue is unveiled in a town square. Or at least seen The Simpsons snippet where he nutmegs (kicks a soccer ball through the legs) Homer (video below).
Both Portugal and Ivory Coast are competing in Group G, the so-called 'Group of Death' because it also includes powerhouse Brazil. Only two teams from the group move on to the next round.
While Brazil is expected to trounce North Korea in their match, it will provide a look at two more of the world's top players: Kaka (ranked No. 4) and Luis Fabiano (ranked No. 14), both of Brazil.
On Monday, the Netherlands defeated Denmark (2-0), Japan defeated Cameroon (1-0), and Italy tied Paraguay (1-1). See all results and a schedule at FIFA.com.
Check out the Monitor daily for your World Cup schedule. Download a PDF of the World Cup schedule from FIFA, and this ESPN fact sheet on its month-long coverage of the World Cup. Live television coverage on ESPN and Univision begins a half-hour before each match. ESPN3 offers live streaming.
IN PICTURES: 10 World Cup players to watch
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