Drogba starts for Ivory Coast against Greece

Sao Paulo (AFP) - Veteran striker Didier Drogba makes his first start of the World Cup Tuesday as Ivory Coast try to reach the knock-out stages against Greece.

Debate has swirled over Drogba's place on the bench for the games against Japan and Colombia, but youthful coach Sabri Lamouchi gave him the nod against Greece.

Their 2-1 loss to Colombia left Ivory Coast second in Group C and they will need a win to make sure of reaching the knock-out stages for the first time.

A win would take Greece through, provided already qualified Colombia do not lose to third-placed Japan in Cuiaba.

Both Yaya and Kolo Toure, whose brother Ibrahim died last week of cancer, were also named in the Ivory Coast team.

Greece

Orestis Karnezis, Ioannis Maniatis, Konstantinos Manolas, Georgios Samaras, Panagiotis Kone, Georgios Karagounis (capt), Dimitrios Salpingidis, Vasileios Torosidis, Lazaros Christodoulopoulos, Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Jose Cholevas

Ivory Coast

Barry Copa, Arthur Boka, Kolo Toure, Salomon Kalou, Cheick Tiote, Gervinho, Didier Drogba (capt), Serge Aurier, Yaya Toure, Serey Die, Sol Bamba