Eriksson took over the Elephants' hotseat on March 28 after the national federation parted company with Vahid Halilhodzic following a disappointing African Nations Cup campaign.

The 62-year-old Swede has been getting to know his new players at a training base in Switzerland and has only two warm-up friendlies - against Paraguay tomorrow and Japan on Friday - before facing Portugal, Brazil and North Korea in Group G.

But Eriksson is upbeat his side can reach the last 16 in South Africa.

"We know that we are in a very difficult group, but I really believe we have a good chance to move on," he told Swedish newspaper Sportbladet.

"It is a golden opportunity (for an African nation) to go far in the World Cup in Africa."

Eriksson acknowledges there is not much time for him to make his mark, but is doing his best.

"The time is short, yes," he added. "But I cannot do anything about it. It is up to us leaders and players to form a team on and off the field. And I think we are going the right way.

"(The squad has) a combination of technique, speed, and many of them are so incredibly physically strong. It is a very interesting team. I have never had a team with that combination before."

Eriksson, who led England to the quarter-finals at the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, believes he has a bigger task on his hands with Ivory Coast but is relishing the chance to coach on the biggest stage again.

"This is perhaps a greater challenge, although there was a big challenge with England also," he said.

"It feels wonderful in every case. I know we have a good team and going into a World Cup is more than wonderful."

Fellow qualifiers Paraguay will also be fine-tuning their World Cup preparations in tomorrow's encounter in Thonon Les-Bains, France. The Paraguayans have been drawn in Group F in South Africa alongside Italy, Slovakia and New Zealand.

Chile continue building up to their Group H fixtures against Honduras, Switzerland and European champions Spain with a game against Northern Ireland in Chillan.

Nigel Worthington's side will face a Chile team eager to further impress head coach Marcelo Bielsa ahead of their opener against Honduras on June 16, having beaten Zambia 3-0 in Santiago last Wednesday.

"They're off to the World Cup and so there will be 11 players out of I don't know how many that are looking to impress to get in that starting XI," Worthington said.

"So they'll be up for it but as always we'll focus on ourselves and what we need to do, get that right and then let the players go out and enjoy the occasion."

South Korea's fringe players will have their last chance to impress coach Huh Jung-Moo tomorrow when they take on Belarus in Austria in their final friendly before their 23-man squad is confirmed on Monday.

Huh, whose side will tackle Greece, Argentina and Nigeria in Group B, said: "I will use the game as the last opportunity to review the ability of my players, even if it may not be recognised as a full international match."

Also tomorrow, Mexico will be looking to return to winning ways to boost confidence ahead of their World Cup campaign when they take on Gambia.

Javier Aguirre's side have been beaten 3-1 by England and 2-1 by Holland in their last two warm-up friendlies.

"We have to keep going for 90 minutes, not 60," he said.

"The moral is that we do not go into big games considering the weather or the level of the rival. We gave away 20 or 30 minutes and that's the bottom line - if you're not focused the whole game you can soon be punished."

Mexico face hosts South Africa, France and Uruguay in Group A.