MILAN - Japan lost to Ivory Coast in their opening Group C match in Brazil, despite a strong showing from Yuto Nagatomo.
The Nerazzurri full-back (who played the full game) provided the pass that enabled Keisuke Honda to put Alberto Zaccheroni's side in front on 16 minutes, but a second-half stampede from Les Elephants saw them trample over the Samurai Blue's hopes of victory as Wilfried Bony and Gervinho's two-minute charge (64, 66) turned the game around: 2-1 the final score.
