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Germany want tough draw but U.S. are unconcerned
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-12-09 08:48

Eriksson wary of Australia

Sven-Goran Eriksson says England will have no fear of Brazil or Argentina at next year's World Cup but he does want to avoid Australia in Friday's draw.

Though he believes a seeded England are better-equipped to face the world's elite in 2006 than they were in 2002, Eriksson is bracing himself for a tricky draw in Leipzig.

"Holland, Australia and the United States would be the worst for us," the England coach told reporters.

"On paper, Holland are the best non-seeded team. Marco Van Basten is building a new team and has been very successful with it."

Looking at the other pots from which England's group rivals will emerge, Eriksson said: "The United States and Australia desperately want to beat England in a big tournament. That would be a big boost for their countries."

England's long-standing sporting rivalry with Australia has reached new heights in recent years with their cricketers' victory in the Ashes and their rugby triumph over Australia in the 2003 World Cup final.

However, Eriksson has unhappy memories of their last meeting on a football pitch. England lost 3-1 in a sharply-contested friendly in February 2003 at Upton Park which he now regrets having organised.

"It was far away from a friendly match," he recalled. "They desperately wanted to beat us and they did."

Unaware of the intensity of the old rivalry, he admitted: "I never knew. If I had known about it, I wouldn't have played Australia because it was not a friendly game at all."

BIG GUNS

Whatever the draw, if David Beckham's men make headway they are likely to face the big guns of South America.

Knocked out in 1998 by Argentina and in 2002 by eventual champions Brazil, England have now added the likes of Frank Lampard, Joe Cole and more importantly, 20-year-old sensation Wayne Rooney.
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