Skip to main content
BBC SPORT / WORLD CUP 2006
Graphics Version | BBC News Home
Sport Homepage | Football | Cricket | Rugby Union | Rugby League | Tennis | Golf | Motorsport | Boxing | Athletics | Snooker | Horse Racing | Cycling | Disability Sport | Olympics 2012 | Other Sport... | TV/Radio Schedule | 606 | Sport Academy | Health & Fitness | Fun and Games | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales
Football Contents:  World Cup 2006 | My Club | Gossip | Premiership | Championship | League One | League Two | Non League | FA Cup | League Cup | Scottish League | Scottish Premier | Scottish Cups | Welsh | Irish | Internationals | Europe | African Women | Football Focus | Match of the Day | World Football | Skills | Laws & Equipment | Get Involved | Score on BBCi | 606

Friday, 9 December 2005, 22:33 GMT

Reaction to the World Cup draw

The World Cup draw in full

England face another Sweden test

Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira

The draw for the 2006 World Cup finals was made in Leipzig, Germany on Friday.

It threw up some intriguing ties for the tournament, which begins with Germany taking on Costa Rica in Munich on 9 June.

Here is some of the reaction from around the world to the draw.

GROUP A REACTION

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 REACTION

Click here for extended reaction from England, Paraguay, Trinidad & Tobago and Sweden

GROUP C REACTION

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 REACTION

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 REACTION

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 favorite' 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 REACTION

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 REACTION

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 REACTION

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."




E-mail this to a friend

RELATED INTERNET LINKS:
FIFA
Your say - 606
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites



SEARCH BBC SPORT: 

Sport Homepage | Football | Cricket | Rugby Union | Rugby League | Tennis | Golf | Motorsport | Boxing | Athletics | Snooker | Horse Racing | Cycling | Disability Sport | Olympics 2012 | Other Sport... | TV/Radio Schedule | 606 | Sport Academy | Health & Fitness | Fun and Games | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales
Football Contents:  World Cup 2006 | My Club | Gossip | Premiership | Championship | League One | League Two | Non League | FA Cup | League Cup | Scottish League | Scottish Premier | Scottish Cups | Welsh | Irish | Internationals | Europe | African Women | Football Focus | Match of the Day | World Football | Skills | Laws & Equipment | Get Involved | Score on BBCi | 606

^ Back to top | BBC News Home | BBC Homepage | Feedback | Help | ©