Edin Dzeko : nets brace

Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko scored a brace as Bosnia-Herzegovina, one of Nigeria’s group stage opponents, got a 2-1 win over Cote D’Ivoire in an international friendly played earlier today in Missouri.

The Bosnians dispatched of the Ivorians with goals in each half from Dzeko, who took advantage of a lapse in the Ivorian defence to curl in his first after 17 minutes before striking in his second in the game and 35th international goal 11 minutes into the second half.

Former Chelsea and Galatasaray striker Didier Drogba, on as a substitute for Lacina Traore, scored Cote D’Ivoire’s consolation from a well struck free-kick in stoppage time of a match played without defender Kolo Toure who is down with an illness.

AS Roma forward Gervinho, Swansea City striker Wilfred Bony and Lille forward Salomon Kalou also played no part in the match as well as Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure who was not named in the matchday squad.

Cote D’Ivoire will compete alongside Colombia, Japan and Greece in Group C of the World Cup starting on June 12, with the Ivorians kicking off their campaign against Japan on June 15.

Bosnia will make their World Cup debut in Group F where they will face Argentina in the first match before meeting with Nigeria’s Super Eagles and then Iran in their final group match.

Iran on their part failed to win yet another World Cup warm-up match this month, forcing Angola to a 1-1 draw last night to make it three consecutive draws for Carlos Queiroz’s men.