Ivorian interim trainer Emerse Faé – thrust into the limelight when the country sacked Jean-Louis Gasset three matches in – commented on what it felt like to be caught in his particular whirlwind last night.
Haller scored the lone goal in last night’s 1-0 victory. The BVB attacker polished off a Max Gradel service in the 65th to ultimately send the Ivorians into the Final. Haller registered a furious five shots on target over the course of a full 90-minute shift. German football’s Congolese representative Silas of VfB Stuttgart could only respond with a meek 12 minutes off the bench.
Haller’s increased playing time, not to mention Kossonou’s re-instated starting role under Faé, have proven to be huge factors in the country’s remarkable and miraculous turnaround. Haller could have had a hat-trick with as many chances as he generated. Faé will surely be happy to welcome Kossounou back for the Final.
“It’s like a dream for us,” Faé – as quoted by Britain’s Guardian newspaper – remarked at his post match presser last night, “After we lost to Equatorial Guinea, none of us could imagine making the Final.”
