Quotes: Argentina, Nigeria, South Korea, Greece
Reuters - Friday 04 December 2009, 21:29
Reaction from Group B teams Argentina, Nigeria, South Korea and Greece following the draw for the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa made in Cape Town on Friday.
ARGENTINA TECHNICAL DIRECTOR CARLOS BILARDO
"I never think the group stage is easy, you have to fear all the teams, fear in inverted commas, have respect, there are no small rivals," Bilardo, who was at the draw in place of suspended coach Diego Maradona, told TyC Sports.
"A World Cup is seven final exams. The groups are all even. They say to win a World Cup you have to beat everyone but that's not so. Everyone feared France. It's easier if you can avoid Germany, Italy, England -- teams with world experience and standing."
NIGERIA COACH SHAIBU AMODU
"Nigeria don't fear any team but we know that it is not going to be an easy group. The key is to have proper preparation for the World Cup. I acknowledge that the qualifiers were quite difficult but I'm hoping that Angola (hosts of January's African Nations Cup) will serve as a means to strengthen the side."
SOUTH KOREA COACH HUH JUNG-MOO
"We will prepare step-by-step. To reach the round of 16 we must get a victory and two draws or two victories. There are no easy teams."
GREECE COACH OTTO REHHAGEL
"Argentina are obviously the favourites in the group. All I can do is make sure that our players are 100 percent fit and ready by the time the World Cup starts.
"This has been a constant problem for me because I've got a very small pool of players to choose from. Greece has 11-13 million inhabitants but Brazil has some 200 million and if they have injured players, it is easy to replace them.
"Nigeria, South Korea are also strong, but we have a very good chance of going through if we are at our best."