Ivorian player says his country will surprise in Brazil

ANKARA 

Jean-Jacques Gosso, the former player of Turkish Spor Toto Super League's Genclerbirligi, has declared his country will create a surprise in the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

The 31-year-old defensive midfielder, who was omitted from the Ivory Coast's World Cup squad, told the Anadolu Agency that the Ivory Coast team would be competing against tough opponents in Group C, including Colombia, Greece and Japan.

He said: "All teams, including Ivory Coast, have equal chances, but the state of mind in Brazil will create the difference.

"Unlike Colombia, Japan and Greece, we have many significant individuals and, if these stars struggle for the team on the pitch, we can be successful in Brazil."

- 'Tough competition'

Referring to his team's failures in previous FIFA World Cup tournaments, Gosso said they had been unable to reach the knock-out stages in the last two World Cup competitions as -- in 2006 in Argentina and the Netherlands and in 2010 in Portugal and Brazil -- the African side, also known as Les Elephants, had not qualified for round 16.

He said: "In Brazil, we may qualify for the quarter final stage and we could also make a surprise, such as playing a final match against the host nation.

"The Ivory Coast National Football Team has many top class players playing for big football clubs, thus there will be tough competition within the team."

"Our 'maestro' is Yaya Toure. Those who are supposed to play in his range should help him so he will make us win our matches in World Cup," he added.

Gosso pointed out that Brazil was favorite to win the 2014 FIFA World Cup, which runs from 12 June to 13 July, as the team could play very effectively.

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