Drogba drama as Ivory Coast are sent packing early

By Nicholas Rigillo Jun 17, 2006, 3:16 GMT

Stuttgart - Didier Drogba, widely regarded as the top African player at this World Cup, will no longer be able to show off his talent at Germany 2006.

His Ivory Coast team was sent packing early after a 2-1 defeat against the Netherlands in Stuttgart on Friday, six days after it was beaten by the same score by Argentina.

Worse still, the 28-year-old Chelsea striker is barred from his side's final Group C match against Serbia and Montenegro on Wednesday as he was booked for a second time in two games on Friday.

Drogba said his team should have deserved to go through to the next round.

'It is a pity we were thrown out, especially because we gave it all we had,' he said. 'But at the end of the day, it's not so terrible because we lost against Argentina and Holland, two very strong opponents.'

Drogba had been singled out by Holland's Ruud van Nistelrooy as 'the man to watch' in Stuttgart. But though a lot of the 'Elephants'' play did go through his precious feet, the 28-year-old ultimately failed to make a major impact on the match.

His booking in the 41st minute - for unduly dragging his foot and hitting Dutch goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar's face in the process - was needless and added insult to injury.

Drogba netted Ivory Coast's first-ever World Cup goal against Argentina, but his performance was generally seen as slack.

He had a slow start to the game, but he did prove to be one of the most active in the final minutes as the Africans charged the Dutch in a desperate bid to clinch a draw.

To his defence, the Ivory Coast captain was not 100 per cent fit in Stuttgart as a sore ankle had forced him to miss some training sessions in the run-up to the match.

And Ivory Coast coach Henri Michel partly blamed his side's early exit on Drogba's lack of fitness on the day.

Drogba has now scored 24 goals in 34 appearances for the Ivory Coast and is by far the team's most prolific striker. His nine goals in eight qualifying games were instrumental in getting the Elephants to their first World Cup.

Holland's Arjen Robben said he felt sorry for his Chelsea team- mate.

'But at least he can now go on a nice holiday and take a rest ahead of the next season,' Robben quipped.

The talented African striker recently said he was ready to extend his contract at Chelsea and play alongside the London club's latest signings: Michael Ballack, Andriy Shevchenko, Salomon Kalou and John Obi Mikel.