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KWESI APPIAH, Ghana Coach
“It’s nice to meet Germany and also USA who we beat in Round of 16 in 2010. We are a better team than in 2010 and I’m sure there will be a lot of surprises in this group.”LUIZ FELIPE SCOLARI, Brazil Coach
“It is good. England, Italy, Uruguay, that is the toughest group and we are not in this one! We open against a European team, which was my preference.
“We have the clasico, which will be very tough, in the middle. Then Cameroon. I think it’s good for us”
DIDIER DESCHAMPS, France Coach
“The most important thing when you start a competition is to win your first match. It could have been more complicated, let’s be honest. We’ll have our Swiss neighbours, one south American team and Honduras playing a similar style.
“We were worried about playing in the north because of the heat. Finally not, it’s better for the recuperation. People said Ukraine was a good draw and see what happened. But yes, it could have been harder. First game is against Honduras, it’s the most important one, winning it would put us in the best position.
No opponent is easy, we need to be ambitious but reasonable. Before and after the draw our objective is the same: Round 16.”
PAULO BENTO, Portugal Coach
“It’s a tight group with a favourite — Germany — because of their history and potential. Both USA and Ghana have good teams, well-organised and good players in some of the best European teams. But our ambition does not depend on the group. We want to be in the round of 16 and that’s what will fight for”
JURGEN KLINSMANN, United States Coach
“I had a feeling in my stomach we’d get Germany. It’s one of the most difficult groups in the whole draw. Including having Portugal and Ronaldo, Ghana’s history with USA and of course Germany it couldn’t get more difficult or any bigger. But that’s what the World Cup is about and we’ll take it. Hopefully we’ll surprise some people there.
“We’re going to be prepared and were are going to be confident. Winning in Italy, getting a result in Russia will help us in our preparations.”
ROY HODGSON, England coach
“It’s a tough group no doubt about that. We’ve almost got two number one seeds in our group, with Italy and Uruguay. Our great advantage is being based in Rio, meaning that we’ve only got that one really long trip. I’m very positive, you just never know. You don’t win football matches on paper, you go out on each occasion 11v11.
If you’re well-prepared you’ve got a chance to win all three of the games.”
DEL BOSQUE, Spain coach
“Chile have expert players and are very physical. We know they will be a very difficult team to face. Australia are a little less well-known, but they have qualified from the Asian groups and I imagine they also have good players. I imagine that Brazil will finish first and so we have to give everything to make sure we win our group too.
“Holland have changed a little bit, especially in the middle of the park, but they still have (Arjen) Robben, (Robin) Van Persie, (Rafael) Van der Vaart and (Wesley) Sneijder.
“I think it is good for our mentality that we have to prepare from the first day. Holland will demand that we start at our highest level.
“Everything depends not just on our opponents, but on ourselves and the way we mentally approach this competition.
“They make the game very uncomfortable for the opponents. They have had the same style of play for a few years now.”
JOACHIM LOW, Germany Coach
“So, we will be meeting old friends. It’s already something special to have the USA in our group. Jurgen and I have had a very good and close relationship for a long time. We have always exchanged ideas on a regular basis, but that will certainly change before the World Cup match.”
WAYNE ROONEY, England star
“If we want to be the best, we have to beat the best. Tough group but really looking forward to it! Roll on Brazil 2014!” — Fifa.com
Online Reporter