Eriksson savoring 'large confront'

Côte d'Ivoire trainer Sven-Goran Eriksson is eagerly expect his side's FIFA World Cup opener against Portugal & insists "all is possible" if the Elephants can talk a tough-looking Group G.
The Elephants have been drawn in debatably the most hard pool of all with matches against Brazil & Korea DPR to follow after Portugal. It will be a hard task to progress to the knockout rounds but Eriksson remains confident.
speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live on Sunday, the Swede they said: "First of all they must concentrate as hard as they can on trying to go through the group stage. If they can do that everything is feasible.
"It's my third World Cup & I am looking forward to it. I have a lovely team going in to the World Cup. Large challenge, I look forward to it. They are in the most difficult group of all. They have plenty of respect for all the teams, but I think the others have plenty of respect for us as well. They have a lovely team & plenty of lovely footy players."
though, their task has been made all the more difficult by the injury to captain Didier Drogba. The Chelsea striker underwent an operation yesterday on his broken arm &, although the federation are not ruling him out of the FIFA World Cup, they is likely to miss at least the Portugal match.
Eriksson admits they is uncertain if they will be able to count on his leading forward. "We still hope but they is in a hospital in Switzerland so I cannot say yes or no but they hope, that is for definite," said the former England boss. "I must wait to listen to from the specialist."
Despite the doubt over Drogba, Eriksson is still hopeful his side can set up a feasible semi-final with England. They believes his elderly team, whom they led to the 2002 & 2006 quarter-finals, have the potential to go further. "If they [England] don't have more bad luck with injuries they have a chance to go the whole way & I would be happy for them if that happens. I think they have a lovely chance. I hope Rooney will stay fit. I think they is important for England as Drogba is for us."
When asked would England reach the Final, they replied: "Yeah, why not, or the semi-final against the Ivory Coast." But they added that Rio Ferdinand's injury represented a setback for England. "Rio Ferdinand is one of the best defenders in the world. Bad news for England & bad news for the World Cup. But England have plenty of lovely footballers, in case you discuss midfielders & defender." watch