Sven keen on Portuguese clash

(GSM) – Cote d’Ivoire coach Sven Goran Eriksson is looking forward to his side’s crucial opening World Cup clash with Portugal.

The former England manager was twice thwarted by Portugal as with England being knocked out of Euro 2004 and the 2006 World Cup by his Group G opponents.

Both defeats came via penalty shoot-outs as Eriksson’s England fell in the quarter-finals of each tournament.

And with Brazil expected to secure top spot in the group, Eriksson is well aware of the importance of getting a result against Portugal, although he claims he is not motivated by revenge.

“Brazil is favourite to win the group and second should be us or Portugal or North Korea on paper. But that’s on paper,” he said.

“But the first match for us is really important. There’s no sense of revenge, this time it can’t be penalty shoot-outs that’s for sure.

“I’m looking forward to that but first we have to start the preparation and it’s still far away. But it’s important.”

And the former Notts County director of football feels that qualifying from ‘the group of death’ will be a success for his side.

But if Cote d’Ivoire do manage to emerge unscathed, Eriksson is aiming for further wins in the knockout stages.

He added: “To go through would be a success from a group like that.

“If we can reach the quarter-final I think everyone should be thinking it’s a great success from an African team, for the Ivory Coast. That’s the first target.

“I don’t know if finishing third would be a failure. But I haven’t thought about that. We have to work, to believe we can pass the group and go further of course.”