Ivory Coast coach Henri Michel admits bad defending cost his side a place in the last 16 of the World Cup as his team prepare to play their last Group C match with Serbia and Montenegro, who have also been eliminated.

The World Cup debutants have played some exhilarating football in their matches with Argentina and Holland, both lost 2-1, but their coach Michel admits they paid for their lack of experience at the top level.

However, even if they beat the Serbo and Montenegrins, the Elephants will be forced to pack their trunks and return home after the match at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday evening.

"In the end we paid the price for mistakes we made in defence," said Michel who has previously led homeland France, Cameroon and Morocco into World Cup campaigns.

"That's the reason we are not going through to the knockout stages and the only positive thing is that it will help us learn for the future."

That future looks certain to be under a new coach with Michel having indicated two days ago that his spell in charge was over.

"There has been no offer from the federation so the match with Serbia and Montenegro will be my last official duty as coach," said Michel.

When the draw was made in Leipzig in December, Group C was immediately identified as the so-called "Group of Death" - and it is the two teams who play in Munich on Wednesday who proved the casualties.