Ivory Coast stars back Eriksson as players, coaches go through crash course ahead of World Cup

Ivory Coast stars back ‘top class’ coach Eriksson

SAANEN, Switzerland — Ivory Coast’s stars backed new coach Sven-Goran Eriksson as the squad continued a crash course of introductions to each other ahead of the World Cup.

Defender Kolo Toure hailed Eriksson as one of the world’s best coaches, and striker Didier Drogba said Wednesday that the Ivorians were preparing well at their camp in the Swiss Alps.

The 62-year-old former England and Mexico coach took over a talented Ivory Coast squad in March, and has little time to prepare before facing heavyweights Portugal and Brazil in Group G in South Africa.

“We couldn’t have anyone better,” Toure said of Eriksson. “He’s a top-class manager.”

Asked how the pre-tournament camp with Eriksson been gone, Drogba added: “Everything has been really great.”