Ivory Coast coach Henri Michel believes his team have got some ground to make up before they can compete with the bigger nations.
Although they impressed with their displays in the defeats to Argentina and Holland, Michel took little consolation from the two games.
“Everyone tells me this team plays great football,” said the Frenchman. “What’s more important is the result.
“We’re out and that’s the bottom line. It means that the Ivory Coast are still not at the level of the big teams.”
However, Michel admitted the Ivorians would have to use the experience at future competitions.
“The only thing we lack is experience,” he said.
“Against countries like Argentina and the Netherlands, nothing is easy, but this is more than disappointing.
“We had a lot of hope going into this tournament.”
