Ivory Coast vs. Japan, 2014 World Cup: Lineups

Update: Ivory Coast beat Japan 2-1

Japan and the Ivory Coast are looking to finish up the longest day of the 2014 World Cup with a bang, but they'll be doing so without some of their iconic players. The Ivory Coast have dropped former Chelsea star Didier Drogba, opting to field Wilfried Bony instead. It's an understandable decision with Drogba getting on in years, but it's still going to be very strange watching Les Elephants field a team without him.

Meanwhile, Japan have replaced vice-captain Yasuhito Endō, who has 144 caps, with Cerezo Osaka midfielder Hotaru Yamaguchi. Like with Drogba, it's an understandable move, but it's also going to be weird watching Japan play without Endō.

With Colombia demolishing Greece in the early game, this match could be decisive. Hopefully both sides go for the kill rather than settle for what would be the first draw of the World Cup.

Ivory Coast starting lineup (4-2-3-1): Boubacar Barry; Arthur Boka, Didier Zokora, Sol Bamba, Serge Auerier; Cheick Tioté, Serey Die; Gervinho, Yaya Touré, Salomon Kalou; Wilfried Bony.

Japan starting lineup (4-2-3-1): Eiji Kawashima; Yuto Nagatomo, Maya Yoshida, Masato Morishige, Atsuto Uchida; Hotaru Yamaguchi, Makoto Hasebe; Shinji Kagawa, Keisuke Honda, Shinji Okazaki; Yūya Ōsako.