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What they're saying
Published in Al-Ahram Weekly on 15 - 12 - 2005

GERMANY coach Jurgen Klinsmann: "It could have been worse. We're happy. We think this group is very do-able."
Ecuador defender Ulises de la Cruz: "It is difficult, but not frightening. We just have to be competitive."
Polish association official Jan Tomaszewski: "Of course I am satisfied. More than that I am extremely happy. I think our chances have risen."
Costa Rica coach Alexandre Guimaraez: "We represent four million Costa Ricans and hope to do as well as possible."
GROUP B
ENGLAND coach Sven Eriksson: "I think that it is not an easy group but it could have been worse. They are difficult games of course but I am happy.
"I said before the draw that if we could avoid Australia and Holland then we would be happy. On paper we are favourites to win the group but you never know."
Eriksson said he was looking forward to playing against the land of his birth at the World Cup.
Sweden coach Lars Lagerback said that he was not surprised that his team had again been drawn against England. The two teams drew 1-1 at the last World Cup in Japan in 2002 and Lagerback said: "I'm starting to think we have some kind of love affair with England. I must say that I'd have been more pleased with the draw if we could have avoided England. It is a better draw than Brazil and Argentina but it will be a hard game for us."
Trinidad & Tobago goalkeeper Shaka Hislop was delighted after his team were drawn against England. "I am buzzing," said Hislop, who has played in England for 13 years. "I've spoken to all the players and we are looking forward to it."
Paraguay defender Jorge Nunez said his team can qualify for the World Cup second phase. "We are very happy. We hope to do good work in Group B and qualify for the next phase," said Nunez. We will play with high quality national teams, although quality is demonstrated in the field. We hope all South American teams will do good work in the World Cup."
GROUP C
IVORY Coast coach Henri Michel: "I think this is the toughest one. It's extremely difficult but it will do us good as we will see some great soccer."
Holland coach Marco van Basten: "They are all countries with a rich history and technically skilled players."
Argentina assistant Hugo Tocalli: "We are not afraid. We have a lot of confidence, we have no fear."
Serbia coach Illija Petkovic: "Easy groups do not exist at the World Cup. We must work hard to get results."
GROUP D
PORTUGAl forward Luis Boa Morte: "The meeting with Angola will be a special moment. It'll be a great festival because our countries are related."
Mexico coach Ricardo Lavolpe: "This is a favourable group, one you can compete in. We can do things here."
Iran coach Branko Ivankovic: "Our group contains very good teams. I hope we respond to the different problems."
Angola coach Luis Oliveira Goncalves: "The people of Angola are proud of us and it will be an honour to be there."
GROUP E
ITALY coach Marcello Lippi: "I'm not disappointed, I'm satisfied. It will be tricky, but they are all strong teams at this level. It's not a problem."
Czech Republic coach Karel Bruckner: "Please write down, 'Italy is the favourite' for this group, not us."
USA coach Bruce Arena: "We will have our hands full. We know they are all going to be difficult games."
Ghana midfielder Stephen Appiah: "Every team will be difficult but we like challenges and we take this seriously."
GROUP F
BRAZIL coach Carlos Alberto Parreira: "In technical terms, it's not so strong but it's a group in which there's going to be a lot of physical strength."
Japan coach Zico: "It is better to face Brazil in the group than the final."
Australia defender Tony Popovic: "This is what dreams are made of. One of the dreams has come true and now we dream that we can get through the group."
Croatia coach Zlatko Kranjcar: "I believe we're better than Australia and Japan is also beatable. I'm satisfied."
GROUP G
FRANCE coach Raymond Domenech: "We know the Swiss and did not beat them during qualifying. South Korea is a bad memory and we don't know Togo."
Switzerland coach Kobi Kuhn: "We are confident that we have a real chance of qualifying from this group."
Togo coach Stephen Keshi: "There are no easy teams in the football world today but we're happy with what we got."
South Korea coach Dick Advocaat: "We have three tough games and we have a very young team but it is maturing."
GROUP H
SPAIN coach Luis Aragones: "It is a good group and we are favourites with Ukraine, but we have to prove that. In general I am definitely satisfied."
Ukraine coach Oleg Blokhin: "It doesn't matter for us what group we ended up in. Our team has proved it can manage."
Tunisia coach Roger Lemerre: "We can defend ourselves. We're small fry but we have our strengths and a chance."
Saudi Arabia coach Gabriel Calderon: "The team has changed a lot and there's real quality and skill in the side."


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