Ivory Coast manager Sven-Goran Eriksson believes that his team are capable of progressing from the World Cup’s ‘Group of Death.’ Eriksson took charge of the Ivory Coast team on March 28, replacing Vahid Halilhodzic after a poor African Nations Cup performance.
The former England manager has been leading him team at their training camp in Switzerland and will manage his first match with the Ivory Coast on Sunday when the Elephants take on fellow World Cup participants Paraguay.
Despite being placed into a group with Portugal, Brazil and North Korea, Eriksson is confident that his squad can progress to the knockout stages in South Africa.
"We know that we are in a very difficult group, but I really believe we have a good chance to move on," Eriksson told Swedish newspaper Sportbladet.
"It is a golden opportunity (for an African nation) to go far in the World Cup in Africa."
The 62-year-old thinks that the Ivory Coast have a strong and unique team that can overcome the fact that he has only been with the squad a short time.
"The time is short, yes. But I cannot do anything about it. It is up to us leaders and players to form a team on and off the field. And I think we are going the right way. (The squad has) a combination of technique, speed, and many of them are so incredibly physically strong. It is a very interesting team. I have never had a team with that combination before."
Eriksson, who led England to the quarter-finals in 2002 and 2006 World Cups, considers the task of leading Ivory Coast a more difficult assignment.
"This is perhaps a greater challenge, although there was a big challenge with England also," he said.
"It feels wonderful in every case. I know we have a good team and going into a World Cup is more than wonderful.
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