Sabri Lamouchi's side face off against Colombia, Greece and Japan in Group C, and are widely tipped to be the best African side at the tournament. Their squad is littered with star names such as Kolo and Yaya Toure, Salomon Kalou, Gervinho and Didier Drogba, but it seems Lamouchi has been spoilt for choice with his squad.
In defence, French-based duo Benjamin Angoua (Valenciennes) and Brice Dja Djedje (Marseille) have both missed out, with a place for Ousmane Diarrassouba Viera now guaranteed. Meanwhile in midfield, experienced Bastia star Romaric has been cut from the squad, as Lamouchi has chosen to go with St. Etienne's Ismael Diomande instead.
Yet the biggest surprises come up front, as Everton loanee Lacina Traore and CSKA Moscow goal machine Seydou Doumbia, who have both been prolific domestically, have both been dropped in favour of Dusseldorf winger Mathias Bolly and Basel striker Giovanni Sio as Swansea City's Wilfried Bony is chosen as the man to support Drogba in attack.
Ivory Coast's Final 23-man World Cup squad
Goalkeepers: Boubacar Barry (Lokeren), Sylvain Gbohouo (Sewe Sport), Sayouba Mande (Stabaek)
Defenders: Serge Aurier (Toulouse), Jean-Daniel Akpa-Akpro (Toulouse), Didier Zokora (Trabzonspor), Kolo Toure (Liverpool), Sol Bamba (Trabzonspor), Arthur Boka (Stuttgart), Constant Djakpa (Eintracht Frankfurt), Ousmane Diarrassouba Viera (Caykur Rizespor)
Midfielders: Cheick Tiote (Newcastle United), Geoffroy Serey Die (Basel), Ismael Diomande (St. Etienne), Didier Ya Konan (Hannover), Yaya Toure (Manchester City), Max Gradel (St. Etienne)
Forwards: Didier Drogba (Galatasaray), Wilfried Bony (Swansea City), Gervinho (Roma), Salomon Kalou (Lille), Giovanni Sio (Basel), Mathias Bolly (Dusseldorf)
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