International Career
Zokora played 102 international matches for the Côte d'Ivoire national football team and is there most capped player of all time. He scored his only goal at the international level in a 4-0 defeat of Botswana on 22 June 2008 that moved Côte d'Ivoire to the top of their group in World Cup qualifiers.
During his twelve years with the national side, Zokora helped Les Éléphants to their first two World Cup finals appearances in 2006 and 2010. On both occasions Côte d'Ivoire were unfortunately drawn into the supposed "Group of Death," valiantly bowing out in third place each time. In the 2010 edition of the tournament, Zokora was forced to play in a new position, center back, against Portugal to bolster and compact the defense against the strong attacking side; Zokora helped his side earn a 0-0 draw.
During the Cup of Nations in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, Zokora said he would retire from international football should Côte d'Ivoire win the title. Zokora did in fact retire from international football on 28 February 2012, following the end of the tournament. But Les Elephantes went down in an 8-7 penalty shoot-out loss to Zambia in the Africa Cup of Nations final.
Read more about this topic: Didier Zokora
Famous quotes containing the word career:
“I began my editorial career with the presidency of Mr. Adams, and my principal object was to render his administration all the assistance in my power. I flattered myself with the hope of accompanying him through [his] voyage, and of partaking in a trifling degree, of the glory of the enterprise; but he suddenly tacked about, and I could follow him no longer. I therefore waited for the first opportunity to haul down my sails.”
—William Cobbett (1762–1835)