Soccer: Sven World Cup plans won’t be ruined - Grip

Sven-Goran Eriksson’s right hand man Tord Grip is hoping the England coach’s reported affair with TV star Ulrika Jonsson will be ‘‘forgotten’’ by the time the World Cup starts.

Eriksson’s private life has been under the spotlight but England number two Grip insists the furore will not affect preparations for the World Cup finals.

‘‘This won’t affect our World Cup dream,’’ Grip told The Sun. ‘‘This has nothing to do with the preparations for the World Cup.

‘‘That is going on as planned because it has to. If it had happened during the World Cup then it would be a problem.

‘‘But hopefully this will be over and forgotten when we are playing in Japan. Me and Sven haven’t talked about this, but I’m sure we will.

‘‘A lot has been written. The Press is free and it is how it works in England. We are getting used to this but I feel so sorry for Sven.

‘‘Soon we will have to pick our squad but it will not affect the players. They are more used to this than we are.

‘‘I don’t want to know about this story. Sven has his private life and I have mine. Even if we are working close together you have to keep certain things to yourself.

‘‘I don’t think this will disturb Sven. He probably thinks the media hasn’t got anything to do with his private life.’’

Eriksson’s partner Nancy Dell’Olio has suggested that the couple would consider their future in England once the World Cup is over.

But Eriksson’s personal manager Athole Still has dismissed fears that the media intrusion into the Swede’s personal life might drive him back into club management with several European giants interested in his services.

Still told the Daily Mail: ‘‘What Nancy has been saying is an understandable reaction to the whole story but Sven is committed to England. I can also tell you that there has been no approach made by any European clubs.’’

Eriksson is scheduled to unveil the official suits he and his players will wear during the World Cup finals in Japan at a public engagement in London this afternoon.