Drogba: 'Getting Eriksson is a dream come true'
Published 23:00 29/03/10 By Darren Lewis
Didier Drogba has described the appointment of Sven Goran Eriksson as Ivory Coast coach as 'a dream come true'.
The Chelsea striker led calls for Eriksson to replace former coach Vahid Halihodzic after Guus Hiddink turned the job down.
Eriksson will now lead the Ivorians into World Cup battle against Brazil and Portugal - the two teams that knocked England out of the World Cup in 2002 and 2006 respectively.
Drogba admits he was impressed with the Swede after watching him lead England at three major tournaments and now believes his country can become the first African nation to win the World Cup.
He said: "There is no doubt Sven will succeed. This is someone who knows the game inside out.
"I have every belief in his ability to take us far and even exceed the targets set for him by the Federation.
"With the little I saw of him while he was in England and what I have heard, and read, I think Sven has come at the right time.
"This is like a wish come true for me and most of my colleagues.
"For weeks and months we have been pondering going to the World Cup without a coach but what we feared most has taken a different twist.
"Now I don't have to wake up every morning and think about the future of my team without a coach.
"Surely all things will work in line for us with Eriksson in charge.
"As a seasoned coach, he definitely knows how to pull in those surprises when least expected. We have a solid team and that alone solves half of his problem.
"The only problem he will face may be the selection of a winning eleven out of a team full of talents."
"We are going to South Africa to win big. This is not something I am saying alone. It is the general feeling when you talk to the other boys in our team.
"Our performance in Germany was not up to what we set out to achieve.
"We have to improve and play much better if we want the other teams to take us seriously. This is not a tournament you can go and play just anyhow.
"It has to be better this time around and I hope Sven provides us with that spirit and direction."
