By Julian Bennetts Kolo Toure insists he has never felt better after beating malaria to prove his fitness in time for the World Cup. The Liverpool centre-back was diagnosed with the illness at the end of last month after a trip back the Ivory Coast. And having previously suffered from the disease back in 2008 while at Arsenal there were fears whether the 33-year-old would be fit for his country’s World Cup opener against Japan on Saturday. VIDEO: Scroll down to watch Kolo, Yaya Toure and Didier Drogba in training Back to fitness: Kolo Toure (centre) in training this week
@highlight
Ivory Coast ace has proved his fitness in time for Group C clash with Japan
@highlight
Toure missed the end of the Premier League season with the illness
@highlight
Defender says his country can take tournament in Brazil by storm
Liverpool
But Toure says he is in the shape of his life – despite admitting he had to calm @placeholder doctors who were so concerned about his condition they were calling him trying to discover the severity of the illness.
Ivory Coast
Ivory Coast
And Toure believes this could finally be the time @placeholder’s golden generation shines on the big stage.