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Ivory Coast coach Sven-Goran Eriksson says that his team will be facing three "difficult" matches in the first round of the World Cup, warning that North Korea could turn out to be a dark horse.
"Pay attention to North Korea. Nobody speaks about North Korea but they play good football. Physically they are better than anyone because they have been in the training camp for six months," he said.
"I think we are going to have three very difficult games, and we have to be very organised," said Eriksson.
Ivory Coast are in Group G at the June 11-July 11 World Cup finals in South Africa. They will play their first game against Portugal, before meeting Brazil and then North Korea.
Eriksson pointed out the first game is "very important... it's like the final for us."
Portugal, he said, are "always difficult" as they are "technically very good, tactically good."
Meanwhile, he also noted that Brazil are touted as one of the likely contenders for the cup. But besides the big teams, North Korea could not to be minimised, he warned.
Eriksson said from the two tapes he has viewed of international games played by North Korea, it was clear that "they are very lively".
"They are organised. Running all the time. And you can't see in the second half that they are getting tired," he added.
The former England coach pointed out that unlike players in the European leagues, the North Koreans have the advantage of managing to "finish the league when they want because of the World Cup".
"That's a great advantage," he said.
"The World Cup is very much about fitness as well," stressed Eriksson.
Part of the Ivory Coast team has arrived at their training camp in western Switzerland's Montreux, while the rest, including captain Didier Drogba, will arrive on Monday.
From Monday, the Ivorians will be based up in the ski resort of Saanenmoeser.
Eriksson said he is looking forward to having the team train in high altitudes, as they would be playing a game in Johannesburg, which lies around 1,700 metres above sea level.
He also acknowledged that it was "not the best situation" to begin training with the team so close to the opening of the finals.
"Of course that's not a perfect situation but that's a fact and we have to be quick and make a team of it on the field and off the field," he said.
Asked about the importance of having striker Drogba on the team, Eriksson pointed to the multitude of goals scored by the Chelsea player.
"Every team going to the World Cup has one or two ...players who are matchwinners. For us it's Drogba, yes," said Eriksson.
"He scored over 30 goals this season, and doing that in the Premier League and Champions' League. That's absolutely incredible... We want him very fit in the World Cup."
"Pay attention to North Korea. Nobody speaks about North Korea but they play good football. Physically they are better than anyone because they have been in the training camp for six months," he said.
"I think we are going to have three very difficult games, and we have to be very organised," said Eriksson.
Ivory Coast are in Group G at the June 11-July 11 World Cup finals in South Africa. They will play their first game against Portugal, before meeting Brazil and then North Korea.
Eriksson pointed out the first game is "very important... it's like the final for us."
Portugal, he said, are "always difficult" as they are "technically very good, tactically good."
Meanwhile, he also noted that Brazil are touted as one of the likely contenders for the cup. But besides the big teams, North Korea could not to be minimised, he warned.
Eriksson said from the two tapes he has viewed of international games played by North Korea, it was clear that "they are very lively".
"They are organised. Running all the time. And you can't see in the second half that they are getting tired," he added.
The former England coach pointed out that unlike players in the European leagues, the North Koreans have the advantage of managing to "finish the league when they want because of the World Cup".
"That's a great advantage," he said.
"The World Cup is very much about fitness as well," stressed Eriksson.
Part of the Ivory Coast team has arrived at their training camp in western Switzerland's Montreux, while the rest, including captain Didier Drogba, will arrive on Monday.
From Monday, the Ivorians will be based up in the ski resort of Saanenmoeser.
Eriksson said he is looking forward to having the team train in high altitudes, as they would be playing a game in Johannesburg, which lies around 1,700 metres above sea level.
He also acknowledged that it was "not the best situation" to begin training with the team so close to the opening of the finals.
"Of course that's not a perfect situation but that's a fact and we have to be quick and make a team of it on the field and off the field," he said.
Asked about the importance of having striker Drogba on the team, Eriksson pointed to the multitude of goals scored by the Chelsea player.
"Every team going to the World Cup has one or two ...players who are matchwinners. For us it's Drogba, yes," said Eriksson.
"He scored over 30 goals this season, and doing that in the Premier League and Champions' League. That's absolutely incredible... We want him very fit in the World Cup."
