Source: Team_Talk
Drogba puts World Cup into perspective
Chelsea striker Didier Drogba will go into this summer's World Cup knowing that life is much more important than football.[LNB] The Ivory Coast are in a difficult group with North Korea, Portugal and Brazil but Drogba is still haunted by the sights he witnessed as they progressed to the finals in South Africa.[LNB]Drogba scored two goals as Ivory Coast beat Malawi 5-0 in a game that was still staged following the tragedy at the 45,000-capacity Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium.[LNB]Nineteen people, including two children, died and more than 130 spectators were injured when part of a wall collapsed as ticketless fans stormed one of the entrances.[LNB]"I am disappointed by what happened, it is hard to take," said Drogba.[LNB]"Football is nothing. You are talking about the deaths of 19 people. When things like that happen it makes you realise how much people care about their country and their team. Peace to them. It is sad."[LNB]Fans who survived the crush have since blamed police for the tragedy, saying security forces provoked the panic by throwing tear gas at people who had nowhere to run.[LNB]Until 2005, Ivory Coast's greatest accomplishment on the pitch was winning the 1992 African Nations Cup - beating Ghana on penalties at the Stade de l'Amitie in Dakar, Senegal.[LNB]But they were unable to qualify for the second round of the World Cup on debut in 2006 after losing to Argentina and Holland in the "group of death".[LNB]They did manage to win one game in Germany, against Serbia and Montenegro, coming back from down 2-0 to win 3-2 on a late penalty by Bonaventure Kalou.[LNB]But with Drogba in attack, anything could happen. The Africans drew 1-1 with Malawi in Blantyre to become the second African side to reach the World Cup in South Africa from the qualifiers.[LNB]Drogba came on as a substitute to score the crucial equalising goal for the visitors after Jacob Ngwira's opener.[LNB]Drogba said: "I am very happy indeed because Ivory Coast is going to the World Cup for the second time."[LNB]The Ivorian has been fiercely proud whenever he was donned the orange strip of his national side.[LNB]Drogba will be ably assisted in South Africa by Chelsea team-mate Salomon Kalou, who has grown in stature in a season that has seen Chelsea challenge for a domestic double.[LNB]Kalou, 24, is in his fourth season at Chelsea and is full of praise for the way Drogba has helped him become a better striker.[LNB]"Didier has never shown me his medals but I have seen the pictures he has in his house from when Chelsea won the Premier League," said Kalou.[LNB]"I want to have a picture on my wall with the trophy and holding my medal too.[LNB]"Every time I have the chance to work with him I listen to what he has to say - he is very important to me. When you're talking about strikers in the game today, Didier is one of the best and I want to take advantage of this opportunity to learn from him.[LNB]"Didier is like a big brother to me. First of all we come from the same country and that makes us closer. He helped me to settle at Chelsea and feel good in the club.[LNB]"He still takes me to one side at training and gives me tips. We are always working in front of the goal. He is always so sharp in front of the net and I want to improve that side of my game. I can improve and develop every season by playing with him. Didier this year has been very important for the club, like every year.[LNB]"He has an amazing goalscoring record for Chelsea and as a player it is a level I want to reach. I'm taking it step by step but I am trying to get in the team regularly first."
