Hibs' Bamba's World Cup of dreams

The big Easter Road defender today admitted he'll be rubbing his eyes in disbelief as he lines up for the Ivory Coast against Portugal in their opening match, a lifetime away from his childhood in the Parisian suburb of Ivry-Sur-Seine. As he whiled away the hours kicking a ball around with his older brother Yaya and their friends all those years ago, Bamba could, of course, dream just like any other youngster.

But even when he signed for then Easter Road boss Mixu Paatelainen pulling on the colours of his adopted country – his parents Bakary and Sehrata emigrated to France from the West African state – appeared nothing more than an impossible dream.

Paatelainen raised more than a few eyebrows when he forked out 75,000 to bring Bamba across the Forth from Dunfermline Athletic where he'd been viewed as being somewhat erratic and impetuous while also impressing with his enthusiastic, no-nonsense, fully-committed style. Nonetheless, English Championship outfit Watford had been prepared to pay even more, even sending a doctor to China where Bamba was playing in the 2008 Beijing Olympics to complete a medical before the proposed move mysteriously collapsed.

Although primarily seen as a central defender – the position he prefers – Paatelainen deployed Bamba in midfield, his first match in a green and white shirt only serving to foster the notion he could be a touch reckless as he was sent off against Dundee United.

Bamba, however, became a firm favourite with the Easter Road support, his regular appearances in the SPL persuading Ivory Coast boss Vahid Halihodzic, coincidentally the player's first coach with French side Paris St Germain, to introduce him to The Elephants' squad.

A daunting prospect, as Bamba admitted, considering he was joining the likes of Chelsea aces Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou, the Toure brothers Yaya and Kolo and Arsenal star Emmanuel Eboue among others. Bamba, though, thrived in such company with Hibs, according to manager John Hughes, reaping the benefit as the 25-year-old realised he could hold his own alongside such names.

Today Bamba smiles as he recollects his first meeting with that galaxy of stars. He said: "Of course, you are going to be a bit apprehensive going into such an environment but they make it easy for you to relax.

"I'd been with younger Ivory Coast teams and the atmosphere was exactly the same, everyone is open, easy to talk to and easy-going."

Bamba reached the quarter-final of the Olympics with the Ivory Coast going down 2-0 to Nigeria, a scenario which was repeated in January as The Elephants lost at the same stage to Algeria in the African Cup of Nations, a defeat which cost Halihodzic his job despite that being his first loss in 23 games.

The Hibs star said: "In Africa any loss is massive and even although it was the first time we'd been beaten in two years they sacked him.

"From my point of view I don't think it was the right thing, we had improved as a team although going out of the African Cup of Nations when we did was very disappointing as we just didn't perform when people expected us to do very well.

"Everyone was disappointed at what happened to Halihodzic but the target was to win the African Cup, we didn't and he was sacked. I've spoken to him since and he just said these things happen in football and you have to move on."

The Ivory Coast did so in appointing former England boss Sven Goran Eriksson to take charge for the duration of their World Cup campaign in a reputed 2million deal with legendary Dutch coach Guus Hiddink having also been linked with the post.

Although the Swede didn't make it to Tannadice to watch Bamba in action as Hibs clinched a place in the Europa Cup by beating Dundee United on the final day of the season, the Easter Road star revealed he'd already spoken to Eriksson prior to his appointment.

He said: "I have to admit losing the previous manager when we did caused me a few worries. He'd obviously known me from my days as a youngster with PSG and he was the one who'd given me my chance to play for my country.

"Obviously Mr Eriksson would know guys like Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou, Emmanuel Eboue and so on, all the big names, but the worry for me was would he know who Sol Bamba playing for Hibs in the SPL was?

"I actually met him when we played South Korea in a friendly in London and he was there. Although we lost 2-0 I felt I had played quite well and afterwards I met Mr Eriksson.

"I didn't know at the time why he was there, I didn't know he was going to get the job but he told me I'd played well and wished me good luck. So I was really happy when he phoned the other week.

"I didn't recognise the number, but he left a message and I called him back for a chat which was good to have."

Now a regular in his country's team, Bamba admitted he can't wait for the action to get underway in Africa, the significance of the tournament not lost on him.

He said: "As an African nation with the World Cup taking place on our continent for the first time it was important that we make the finals.

"It seemed so far away at one point but now it can't come quickly enough. We've been to Switzerland for a training camp before moving to South Africa and it will be a special, special moment when we line up to play Brazil on June 15."

Although the Ivory Coast made the finals for the first time four years ago, The Elephants failing to qualify from the group stages behind Argentina and Holland, Bamba admitted he and his team-mates face just as tough a task to make headway this time round having been draw in arguably the toughest section in which their opponents will be Portugal, Brazil and North Korea.

And that's where he hopes Eriksson's experience – he took England to the quarter-finals in 2006 having also done so four years earlier – will count for a great deal.

The Hibs star said: "It's something of a step into the unknown for us as we've never played any of those countries before. I don't need to say anything about Brazil with the likes of Kaka while Portugal are one of the best sides in Europe.

"Of course it is going to be tough, but that's what playing in the World Cup finals is all about and as a player you have to be excited at the prospect of playing against guys like Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo.

"I'm not going to go getting myself too worried about the players we'll be coming up against, I'm aiming to enjoy it and try to go as far as we can. The big tournaments have the big-name countries and players, you are playing against the best in the world but you also have to remember that you've earned the right to be there.

"I have to admit that when I signed for Hibs I didn't think for one minute that two years on I'd be playing in the World Cup finals. It's been a fantastic couple of years for me, hard work but what a reward for it all."

The Ivory Coast certainly earned their right to take their place with the world's elite, negotiating a 12-match qualifying campaign unbeaten and dropping just one point, against Malawi in their penultimate game when they needed just a draw to ensure their place in the finals. Bamba said: "I think our opening game against Portugal is crucial. If we can avoid defeat in that match then we'll have a chance of going through then who knows what might happen in the knock-out stages.

"Hopefully Mr Eriksson with all his experience will be able to help us get to that point."

While Brazil, Portugal and the Ivory Coast will be seen as the three countries most likely to be fighting for the two qualifying places from Group G, Bamba insisted no-one should write off the chances of North Korea, playing in the finals for the first time in 44 years.

Although he is, of course, far too young to remember, Bamba pointed out how that goal from Doo-Ik Pak had floored Italy at Middlesbrough's Ayresome Park before the North Koreans found themselves three goals up against Portugal in the quarter-finals four days later only to lose 5-3 with the legendary Eusebio scoring four.

He said: "Obviously they are very much the unknown side but as 1966 showed, the underdogs can often have a nasty bite. There will be no pressure on them as no-one expects them to go through, but it's never easy to play against teams from the Far East, they never stop running, they've quick feet and they'll play right to the final whistle."

LONG HARD ROAD TO SOUTH AFRICA

Match 1 (1/6/08) Ivory Coast 1, Mozambique 0

Match 2 (8/6/08) Madagascar 0, Ivory Coast 0

Match 3 (14/6/08) Botswana 1, Ivory Coast 1

Match 4 (22/6/08) Ivory Coast 4, Botswana 0

Match 5 (7/9/08) Mozambique 1, Ivory Coast 1

Match 6 (11/10/08) Ivory Coast 3, Madagascar 0

Match 7 (29/3/09) Ivory Coast 5, Malawi 0

Match 8 (7/6/09) Guinea 1, Ivory Coast 2

Match 9 (20/6/09) Burkina Faso 2, Ivory Coast 3

Match 10 (5/9/09) Ivory Coast 5, Burkina Faso 0

Match 11 (10/10/09) Malawi 1, Ivory Coast 1

Match 12 (14/11/09) Ivory Coast 3, Guinea 0

IVORY COAST made it through their Group E qualifying group without losing a match, running away with their final qualifying group ahead of Burkina Faso, Malawi and Guinea.

The Elephants' only other appearance was in Germany 2004. They hold the distinction of being the only team who have never failed to score in a World Cup finals match.

World Cup 2010 finals fixtures

15/6/10 Ivory Coast v Portugal (4pm, Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth)

20/6/10 Brazil v Ivory Coast (8.30pm Johannesburg, JSC)

25/6/10 North Korea v Ivory Coast (4pm Nelspruit)