Soccer-Ivory Coast make changes, Curacao keep same lineup


Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group E - Curacao v Ivory Coast - Philadelphia Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. - June 25, 2026 Ivory Coast players arrive at stadium before the match REUTERS/Brian Snyder

PHILADELPHIA, June 25 (Reuters) - ⁠Ivory Coast made four changes from the ⁠side that lost to Germany for ‌Thursday's World Cup game against Curacao, who named the same team who took a point off Ecuador at the ​weekend.

• Curacao coach Dick Advocaat ⁠stuck with the ⁠same formation of 5-4-1 with Juergen Locadia the lone ⁠striker ‌for the Group E clash.

• The Ivorians have taken three defenders out ⁠from the side who lost to ​Germany, keeping ‌only Odilon Kossounou as Emmanuel Agbadou, Ghislain Konan ⁠and ​Wilfried Singo are dropped. Ousmane Diomande, Guela Doue and Christopher Operi come into the back four.

• ⁠Christ Inao Oulai drops out ​of the Ivory Coast midfield to allow Nicolas Pepe to add to an attacking line-up, as ⁠he plays alongside Ange-Yoan Bonny.

Lineups

Curacao: Eloy Room, Joshua Brenet, Jurien Gaari, Armando Obispo, Sherel Floranus, Deveron Fonville, Juninho Bacuna, Livano Comenencia, Leandro Bacuna,Tahith ​Chong, Juergen Locadia

Ivory Coast: Yahia ⁠Fofana, Ousmane Diomande, Christopher Operi, Odilon Kossounou, Guela ​Doue, Franck Kessie, Ibrahim ‌Sangare, Yan Diomande, Amad Diallo, ​Ange-Yoan Bonny, Nicolas Pepe.

(Writing by Mark Gleeson in Atlanta; Editing by Ed Osmond)

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