Ivory Coast national team boss Sabri Lamouchi has stated that it is now looking highly unlikely that star midfielder Yaya Touré will be fit for the opening match against Japan. Ivory Coast will be taking on Japan in the first match of the tournament on June 14. The Manchester city star, Yaya Touré, is one of the important players. He is expected to shine at the World Cup 2014 and take Ivory Coast to the latter stages of the competition. He comes into the tournament on the back of a very good form that has seen him score more than 20 goals in all competitions from the midfield last season.

However, he is likely to be a major miss for the match against Japan due to the hamstring injury that has been struggling to allow him to train with the team mates. He is definitely not 100% fit. The 31-year-old suffered his injury while playing against West Ham in the Premier league. Even though he has been part of the group as they prepared for the World Cup, Lamouchi says that he has not been training fully with his teammates. It remains to be seen if Lamouchi will take the risk and start with Touré for the opening match.

“He ended the season with difficulties. He is yet to fully train with the group but he’s currently responding to a healing protocol. We will do our best to make him fit to play against Japan in our opener. He might start or come in as a substitute. I can’t really tell for now," said the Ivory Coast boss ahead of the World Cup 2014 start. Ivory Coast are the same group containing the likes of Columbia and Greece aside from Japan. They are seen as favourites to top the group.