Toure: Eriksson has changed our mindset

Sven-Goran Eriksson’s highly fancied Côte d'Ivoire side make their grand entrance at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ on Tuesday against Portugal in Port Elizabeth. Ahead of the Group G clash, defender Kolo Toure, talking exclusively to FIFA, describes his hopes and ambitions for the tournament as a whole.

FIFA: Kolo, you couldn’t hide your joy at Sven-Goran Eriksson’s appointment as Côte d'Ivoire coach. Why were you so happy with the decision?
Kolo Toure: Because he’s hugely experienced, plain and simple. He’s already coached the national teams of massive countries like England and Mexico. At club level, he’s won plenty of trophies, and has been in charge at places like Lazio and Manchester City. It was crucial for us to attract a coach with a great track record and lots of experience. I’m still delighted that he chose us.

What has changed since his arrival?
He has put an added emphasis on playing as a team and not just as a collection of individuals. He has managed to change the mindset of the team and of each player. We’ve always had good players, but have never been able to properly work together as an effective unit, defending and attacking as one. That’s what we’ve been working on, and we hope that it’ll bear fruit, starting with our first match versus Portugal.

Where do you think the original problems that you mention stemmed from? 
We found it impossible to talk to each other honestly, to offer constructive criticism or to completely focus at training sessions. All of these factors began to create an unhealthy atmosphere within the squad. If you want to become a great international side, you need 23 players who are humble and uncomplicated, and are all willing to fight for the same cause. On the pitch, everyone has to put aside personal issues and think only of the team.

Eriksson has been focusing a lot on your defence since your FIFA World Cup preparations began. Why is this?
Because we need to learn to defend better, and as a team. By ‘as a team’, I mean defending collectively, in a system where everyone does his bit, from striker to goalkeeper. In modern football, you win nothing without a strong defence.

Did Didier Drogba’s injury affect team morale, at least at first ?

During the first few days, it was really hard to take, because Didier is our captain and best player, after all. He’s a top goalscorer who has always stood up to be counted when we’ve found ourselves with our backs against the wall. But, as I’ve said already, there are 23 players here representing Côte d’Ivoire, and it’s all those players together who’ll win us matches, not Didier Drogba on his own. We’ll deal with whatever comes our way. What counts now is that everyone fights for each other, side by side.

Your friend Didier Zokora may start alongside you in central defence. Any thoughts?
You know, we’ve already played beside each other in defence over the years. When we were young, we had a good time together: he called me [Fabio] Cannavaro and I called him [Alessandro] Nesta. Didier is a natural defender, with the right mentality to excel in the position. He’s a very intelligent player.

What lessons did you retain from Germany 2006?
A real mix of things. On the one hand, there remains the nagging feeling that we missed a great chance to do something big. On the other hand, we were very young and inexperienced, and it was our first World Cup. The way we had qualified made us feel that just being there was already a huge achievement. This time around, it’s different. Our ambitions are greater. We’re all more focused on the same goal. And playing on our home continent gives us even more desire to surpass ourselves.

Eto’o leading from the front

As an attacking spearhead, captain and inspirational leader of a generation, Samuel Eto’o will have several roles to perform for Cameroon in the coming days. The undisputed star of the Indomitable Lions pack, the Inter Milan striker also has the responsibility of ensuring that coach Paul Le Guen’s message gets through to his team-mates, one he can be expected to fulfil with authority.

Eto’o was the obvious choice for the captain’s armband when the Frenchman took over last June and showed his motivational qualities during Cameroon’s successful push for a place at South Africa 2010, the sixth occasion on which they have reached the FIFA World Cup™ finals.

Fresh from helping the Milan giants clinch a Serie A, Coppa di Italia and UEFA Champions League treble, Eto’o remains as hungry for success on the international stage as he has always been. And it is that undiminished appetite that made Le Guen’s choice to appoint the irrepressible goal-getter as his on-field leader an easy one.

"When I handed these responsibilities to him I wanted to make a statement," the former Lyon and Glasgow Rangers coach tells FIFA in an exclusive interview. "Samuel Eto’o is a talismanic player and the most important member of the team. They know what a great champion he is, and he always plays for his country with pride. He is also an out-and-out team man, as he showed for Inter this season."

Such a burden might be too much for many players. But then again Eto’o is no ordinary footballer and has a very clear understanding of his obligations over the coming days, with tomorrow’s meeting with Japan providing the latest major test of his tenure.

Samuel Eto’o is a talismanic player and the most important member of the team.

Paul Le Guen, Cameroon coach

"To my mind being a captain means being a leader of men," said Eto'o. "And you don’t need an armband for that. What I always try to do is be the coach's right-hand man out on the pitch."

Given his admiration for Le Guen, it is a role he will be more than happy to carry out at South Africa 2010. "He’s come in and really helped the players to relax and calm down. The progress we’ve made recently is all down to him."

Sharing the workload
Cameroon’s top scorer in the qualifiers with nine goals, Eto’o is adamant he can cope with the pressure of being the nation’s standard bearer: "I scored a lot of goals for sure but I couldn’t have done that without the rest of the team helping me. I can’t get the ball and do everything on my own, I need them to get the ball to me and know I can always rely on them for that.

"We have some good players like Eric Choupo Moting, who is a young man with a lot of talent," he continues. "Then there are the old hands like Pierre Webo, Achille Emana, Mohamadou Idrissou and Vincent [Aboubakar], who I think is a terrific player."

The value of those veterans is also not lost on Le Guen, who is expecting them to do their fair share to support Eto’o. "He’s obviously a valuable asset but we have many other strings to our bow and I am absolutely convinced we can show that during the course of the competition," explains the Cameroon boss. “We’re going to prove that we are not entirely dependent on him."

Great expectations
Though his side was knocked out early at the CAF African Cup of Nations Angola 2010 and suffered recent friendly defeats to Portugal and Serbia, Le Guen’s confidence in his charges remains undimmed.

"First of all we’ve only played away games and we drew with Italy in one of those matches," he explains. "I don’t think all the hard work we’ve done should be undermined just because of those warm-up games. I can tell you we weren’t even thinking about winning them. Eto’o only played for 20 minutes against Portugal, but I’m not worried about that in the slightest. What I was looking for was a good workout and that’s what we got."

Part of the Frenchman’s motivation for success is founded on the fanatical support his team have been receiving from the Cameroonian people: "The country expects a lot of us. There’s a very strong bond between the fans and the national team and everyone’s expecting us to win. That’s what they’re dreaming about and that’s why we need to set our minds on going a long way."

Echoing those sentiments, the African Player of the Year in 2003, 2004 and 2005 is intent on tapping into that huge swell of support and breaking into new territory. "I hope we can match their expectations and go as far as possible, further than in 2002," he says by way of conclusion. "I can’t wait to get started and experience some more memorable moments."

Bayern's Robben eager to seize the day

Having played a key role in FC Bayern München's run to the final, Arjen Robben is determined to make the most of the opportunity on Saturday, saying: "You have to give everything on this day."

Winger Arjen Robben will look to bring an exceptional season to an exceptional end on Saturday by helping FC Bayern München overcome FC Internazionale Milano in the UEFA Champions League final. Here he sizes up the strengths of coaches Louis van Gaal and José Mourinho, looks back on a memorable campaign and sets his sights on a fitting finale at the Santiago Bernabéu.

It's been a terrific season for you. Is it the best of your career?

Arjen Robben: Suddenly, it's certainly among one of my best years. I have felt good here from the first day. They gave me a great welcome. I feel very comfortable at the club and the main reason is I stayed fit for the whole season. For that reason I think I'm having a good season.

What impact has coach Van Gaal had at the club?

Robben: A major impact. He has his own way of working and players have to adapt to him. He's got a lot of energy, positive energy, and is one of the few coaches in world football that still looks at the individual. Of course he wants to make the team better – in the end it is all about team performance – but he also looks at the individual. He wants to make players better and that is what he has done this year. That is why sometimes it takes some time, because he has his own way of working and tactically he is very strong. As a person, not just a coach, he is great for his players.

What have you learned from Van Gaal?

Robben: It is a Dutch way of working, so for me it was maybe a little bit easier than for the other players, the German players. For me the most important thing is that he keeps telling us to make the right choices on the field. The game is so quick nowadays and you have to make decisions very fast. That is how he tries to help: to make a good decision, when to dribble, when to pass.

Talking about coaches, you're coming up against your old Chelsea FC boss Mourinho. How does that feel?

Robben: It's great. I was at Madrid for two years and now this year at Munich, so I haven't seen or spoken to him for three years. Of course he is also a great coach. I had a great time with him at Chelsea. Together we won all the prizes that can be won in England and we wrote history together by winning the first title in 50 years at Chelsea. So yes, only positive experiences with him and lovely to see him.

What are the differences and similarities between the two coaches?

Robben: They are both very strong at preparing a team. Mentally they're also very strong. They can really put out a winning team and create a winning team. As for their differences, Van Gaal maybe looks more at the football-playing part and Mourinho looks a bit more at the organisation defensively. As for the rest, they are among the best coaches in the world.

Tell us about your compatriot Wesley Sneijder, a team-mate of yours last season at Real Madrid CF and now playing against you for Inter.

Robben: He makes the game. He's the one in the centre, playing behind the strikers and is always there to start the attack. I think all the attacking play will be done by him and he's always there to send great passes. He's a great player. It's very nice we can go back to Madrid together, playing for different teams but playing the final. I'm happy for him. He has had a great season.

What will Bayern have to do to win?

Robben: I don't expect Inter to defend as much as they did against Barcelona, though of course they also had a player sent off. We have to play our own game. We can't change our tactics. We've played the whole season the same way and that's what we will do in the final as well. On the day you have to sometimes be a bit lucky, but at least you have to be sharp in front of goal and the chances you get you have to take.

How will it feel to return to the Bernabéu. Do you have a point to prove?

Robben: Yes, but not particularly in this game. I can already be satisfied about this season. But of course this is the highest occasion for a football player, also as an individual, so hopefully I can have a good game. But it's not to show people, it's to win the title. That's the most important thing. If I have a terrible game and we win in the end it's all good.

How important is it for Bayern to win the UEFA Champions League?

Robben: It's funny, the club didn't expect us to be in the final this year. The main goal was to win the championship and that's what we did. But now we're in the final, it's a unique opportunity and you have to try and win it. You have to give all on this day and I think we will see 22 players who will play for their lives.