Paqueta pledges different World Cup appearance

الجمعة، 12 مايو 2006 - 21:14

كتب : Amro Hassan

Saudi Arabia coach Marcos Paqueta said that his team will work on straightening up their image from the 2002 World Cup in Korea and Japan, when they play in next month's World Cup in Germany.

"We want to erase the negative image we've been portrayed with following the 2002 World Cup which still hurts the players as much as the fans, " Paqueta told Saudi newspaper Al-Watan.

The Brazilian coach added that he is looking to follow in the footsteps of fellow Asians South Korea, who reached the 2002 World Cup semi-finals.

"What Guus Hiddink achieved with South Korea proves that we can repeat such success even if it seems impossible, he's a coach that really impresses me and I'll be looking to reach the semi-finals with Saudi Arabia as he did with Korea," Paqueta insisted.

Paqueta said that the Korean success came through excelled team work and not individual skills, adding that it's an advantage for his team not to have European based players as it gives them the chance to train together much more.

Asked about his team's chances of qualifying to the tournament round-two, Paqueta said: "Spain are the group favorites, and Ukraine will be very tough opponents, but if we beat Tunisia in our first game and draw the other two games, who knows where can we go from there."

Paqueta said he wishes to succeed with the Saudi team at the World Cup, clearing that his biggest dream is to coach his country Brazil one day.

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