quotes group b

Bilardo: We can't complain

Carlos Bilardo, Argentina general managerMy first thoughts are that this is a good group, because our main goal was not to travel too much. For that it's just perfect. But it's not an easy group – on the contrary I think it's very difficult In 1990, everybody thought that Cameroon was easy and we ended up losing the first match. Korea [Republic] are strong, but we know them very well. Nigeria are difficult too, and Greece have shown in recent years that they can compete against big teams. If it wasn't Greece, it could have been Portugal or France, so we can't complain. But we are confident, of course. [Diego] Maradona and I have been to two World Cup finals, which is not bad! I hope this will continue next year. In 1986 we had Maradona as the key to our victory and now we have [Lionel] Messi. He's our decisive player. I haven't spoken to Diego yet, but I am sure that he's confident.

Shaibu Amodu, Nigeria coach
This is a very important tournament for Nigeria and we are all aware of the expectations on our shoulders. We are in a difficult group – with Argentina, Greece and Korea. This is a similar group to the one we had at the 1994 World Cup and I don't want to talk about history but people will remember how we performed at that tournament even though people thought we wouldn't do well. This World Cup is an opportunity for African teams to showcase their ability to the rest of the world. The most important thing for Nigeria will be to do well in this tournament – our ultimate goal is to proceed to the knockout stages. In a World Cup, you need a good start and then you can build from there. We have the players who are capable of representing this continent with pride but we need to gel as a team and believe in this dream. We have played against some of our opponents before and we have an idea of what we are up against. 

Huh Jung-Moo, Korea Republic coachIn a World Cup, there are no easy matches, so I have no reason to complain about our group. We are up against very strong teams. Every game we will play is difficult but we also had tough assignments in the Asian qualifying round. Obviously a team like Argentina will start as favourites. They have very good players who are well-known but that is not a problem for us, we are used to starting from the back. We played against them at the 1986 World Cup and we lost but with the experience gained and lessons learned, we hope we can do better. In 2002, no one gave this team a chance but we went to the semi-finals. Some people will say we're not one of the favourites and that is fine – my biggest concern is injuries, we have been very unlucky with injuries lately and I want to travel to South Africa with a full squad. What we learned in 2002 is that good preparations are always very important, we have to be fully prepared and ready for all the games we will play. 

Otto Rehhagel, Greece coach
Argentina will be the clear favourites in our group, they are number one. They are a very good and dangerous side, I think all the teams in the group will struggle against them. I think it is only fair to say that the three other teams will be aiming for second. So it is up to all of us to fight for the second spot and I think we all have an equal chance of getting to the second round. We have to start well and work hard to stay in South Africa for the knockout stages – that will be our main aim. Once you are in the knockout stages, then anything is possible. I don't want to make any predictions, I’m not good at that. From here, we need to study our opponents and plan ahead.(fifa.com)

quotes ..... Parreira: We'll perform with pride

Parreira: We'll perform with pride

Carlos Alberto Parreira, South Africa coachFor the first time in a long while, we were witness to a World Cup draw that is pretty even overall, without a particularly easy group or a group of death. In what I would describe as an open draw, we definitely have the most open group. Up against two former world champions – France and Uruguay – I realise that the task ahead looks difficult, but we're ready to tackle it head-on with pride and courage. A tough challenge awaits us, but we're capable of meeting it if we put in the hard work in the run-up. I'm obviously aware of the importance of the first match, but I don’t intend to simply focus on that game. I would rather look at the group as a whole, because if we were to beat Mexico but then lose to the two other teams, it would all be for nothing. That said, there is no doubt that winning the opening match is always crucial for morale.

Javier Aguirre, Mexico coachIt was a very emotional yet enjoyable moment when I saw that we would be taking part in the opening match. We’re very much aware that the eyes of the world will be upon us that day – expectations will of course be high, and we are confident of being able to rise to the occasion. South Africa will be under considerable pressure as host nation, but they will also benefit from immense local support and familiarity with their surroundings. I’m not going to label this group either difficult or manageable – I’m going to call it unique, without one clear favourite. We are due to face three opponents that all possess their own distinct style. We’re going to have to study them closely, to get to know them and to select appropriate opposition in our upcoming friendly matches to accustom ourselves to similar styles of play. Even if our pool does indeed contain two previous World Cup winners, I happen to believe that from the moment my players walk out on to the pitch, history is no longer a factor.

Oscar Tabarez, Uruguay coachThe group is an open one. It includes the host nation, which is always a tough proposition anyway, but it is made harder by the fact they are a solid unit and have been strengthened by the return of Parreira. He knows better that anyone how to go about preparing a team for this tournament. As for France and Mexico, they represent experienced opponents who are regulars at World Cups. I would therefore be inclined to say that it is a difficult draw, but also that we’re not just here to make up the numbers. As of now, we can start concentrating on putting preparations in place for the competition. I’ve got six months to condition my team so that they are ready and able to qualify for the Round of 16. I can’t say for sure if we will qualify, but what I know is that it is within our capabilities. I’m fortunate to coach a team that is a blend of young players, motivated by the very thought of playing in South Africa, and experienced campaigners, who won’t feel overwhelmed by the event in any way.

Raymond Domenech, France coachThe first thing that’s clear when you look at the make-up of the eight groups – and ours in particular – is that it’s not going to be easy for anyone. We are truly delighted and honoured to be playing against an African team at the first World Cup to be held in the continent, but even more so against the host nation. We’re all aware that they will have the unwavering support of the whole country behind them, and that will be something we will have to deal with. We can also look forward to facing two teams from Latin America, and we know that they will be challenging opponents. One advantage for us is that they play a style that we are familiar with – very skilful, and capable of lulling teams into a false sense of security. We must be careful not to fall into that trap. We’ve played against both these teams in the not-too-distant past, so we know what to expect. We can now start calmly preparing for the summer, with one positive outcome already assured – we won’t be playing any of our group matches at altitude, which was something I really wanted to avoid.(fifa.com)