Ivory Coast defeated Japan 2 - 1 their first game of the Soccer World Cup

Serge Aurier has been heavily linked with Arsenal and he shone in Ivory Coast's win over Japan.

Serge Aurier has been heavily linked with Arsenal and he shone in Ivory Coast's win over Japan.

Keisuke Honda (Japan) celebrates making the goal to Ivory Coast.

Keisuke Honda (Japan) celebrates making the goal to Ivory Coast.

Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni lamented his team's lack of intensity

Arena Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil - by Philip O'Connor and Sam Crocker - Ivory Coast's 2-1 win over Japan has provided them with an excellent chance of making it out of Group C, acting as a trampoline for Les Elephants to peer over the wall and get a glimpse of the second round on the other side.

Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni lamented his team's lack of intensity as they conceded two headers in three minutes to allow Ivory Coast to snatch all three points in their opening World Cup Group C game on Saturday.

The Italian said he would analyse the performances of both himself and the team to find out why they did not reach their usual level.

Serge Aurier - believe the hype

With the amount of interest that surrounded right-back Aurier before this tournament, you would understand if the 21-year-old didn't quite reach the mind-blowing levels of excellence expected of him. After all, he is just a right-back.

In fact, he showed he was not just a right-back, as his two perfectly placed crosses provided the goals that his side so desperately needed.

Tenacious and powerful down that right side, Aurier really came alive when Sabri Lamouchi used Serey Die as a third centre-back, allowing his teammate to become the devastating force he has so often been for Toulouse this season.

Both crosses for the two goals were sublime, executed with a level of technique that many right-backs do not develop until at least their mid-twenties. The only negative was his role in the Japan goal, ignoring the free Keisuke Honda on the edge of the area to seemingly mark nobody in particular.

But this should not be too much of a mark on his performance; his never-ceasing willingness to get stuck in and join up with the attacks was a true joy to behold.