New Zealand's Chris Wood (L) fights for the ball against Japan's Maya Yoshida during their international friendly soccer match at the national stadium in Tokyo March 5, 2014. REUTERS/Toru Hanai
(Reuters) - Japan defender Maya Yoshida is ready to renew his rivalry with some familiar faces in Saturday's World Cup clash against Ivory Coast in Recife, aware that he needs to be on top of his game to thwart players such as Yaya Toure and Gervinho.
Gervinho, then with Arsenal, soured Yoshida's 2012 Southampton debut with a brace in a 6-1 Premier League romp and the Japanese centre-back considers himself responsible for one of the two goals scored by the striker, who now plays for Roma.
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