Drogba: I wanted to bring something more

Côte d' Ivoire Captain Didier Drogba stressed the need to put the team before his personal ambitions, after it the African nation, kick-off their 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil ™ campaign with victory over Japan helped. Drogba could not be started, but in the second-half substitute and helped, the inspiration for a 2-1 come - from - behind victory in Recife.

"I was disappointed (not start)," the 36-year-old Drogba to French newspaper L ' Équipe. "But I've started my respect for those. When I went, I just wanted to help this disappointment did not need the team to win the game, and I, to be motivated. "I know not how long I played, but I knew that it was important to give something extra for the team."

Japan had taken a first half lead against the run of things thanks to a goal from Keisuke Honda, but turned the game on its head four minutes of introduction of athleticism in the 62nd minute of the Côte d'Ivoire, to go 2-1 ahead. Wilfried Bony drew the teams level in the 64th minute and then his fellow forward Gervinho netted, what would prove, the winner of the game moments later be. "Japan we were very dangerous but not drawn and had to come from behind to win", said Drogba.

We have prepared many weeks for this game and it was important to the competition on the right foot.

Didier Drogba, Ivory Coast captain

Drogba, playing in his third World Cup, hopes that Les Elephants can reach the knockout stage of the competition for the first time in the history of the country.  The Côte d' Ivoire take Colombia on Thursday at the Estádio Nacional in Brasília. Colombia won their group C game against Greece on three points with Drogba's team level go.

"It's a beautiful victory and we are happy with the result," said Galatasaray after the front. "We have prepared many weeks for this game and it was important to the competition on the right foot. This result is very important, especially, if we play a good game against Colombia."

Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni was frustrated as the result but you emphasized the need to look forward. The blue Samurai take on Greece on Thursday at the Estádio das Dunas in Natal. "We gave of Côte d' Ivoire players play too much space and not good defensively or aggressively", said the Italian. "We have two games and now we have to improve our morality.

"We have to play better than us tonight, and if we do that then we know that we can produce good results." The past is in the past is important, what comes next. Usually, we know what we have to do, and if we, that reach our results are fantastic. We play not only an excellent opponent against the Ivory Coast, but we don't play to our standards."