ERIKSSON MAKES HIS PITCH TO TAKE SOCCEROOS TO WORLD CUP
FORMER England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has declared he is interested in taking the Socceroos to the 2018 World Cup.
Eriksson, who has coached at three World Cups, believes the Socceroos are capable of advancing from Group C along with favourites France.
Football Federation Australia has been inundated with requests, with Jurgen Klinsmann and Bert van Marwijk believed to be interested.
Eriksson, 69, is the first international coach to officially declare his interest and was confident of making an impact.
“Yes, of course, I’m interested. It’s a big job, a big football country, you’re playing in the World Cup — again. You more or less always play in the World Cup,’’ he said.
“I have watched some Australian games and I watched the games against Honduras, the last games.
“France are big favourites in the group, but I think it will be a fight for second place between Australia, Peru and Denmark. I think the chances for Australia are good.
“The whole world would say France is favourite to win that group, but second, I think it’s very tight. Any team there can beat anyone, it’s very open. Why not Australia?”
Eriksson carved a strong reputation in Italy’s Serie A before leading England to the 2002 and 2006 World Cups — exiting at the quarter-final stage each time.
The Swede, who was most recently in China, was appointed Ivory Coast coach on the eve of the 2010 World Cup — in March 2010 — after stints with Mexico and Manchester City.
“I’ve been lucky. I’ve been coach in three World Cups,’’ he said.
“The World Cup is the biggest party in football and it’s a party for the world, it’s incredible. It goes for a month and there is a huge amount of interest.
“It’s the greatest thing you can do and it’s beautiful.”
Eriksson, whose Australian representative is Ante Alilovic, was stunned by Ange Postecoglou’s exit after qualifying Australia for Russia 2018.
“It was a surprise that he resigned, I was surprised because he [qualified] them to the World Cup. But that’s life,’’ he said.