By Osasu Obayiuwana BBC Sport

Tardelli is aware of Egypt's tough World Cup group

Egypt's new coach Marco Tardelli has acknowledged the difficulty of leading the Pharaohs to the 2006 World Cup.

The North Africans have not reached the finals of football's most prestigious event since the 1990 tournament in Italy and are desperate to return to the global stage.

But earning the sole ticket from a tough qualifying group has made the former Inter Milan and Bari manager realise that reaching Germany would require hard work.

We would have to work very hard Egypt coach Marco Tardelli

"With the presence of Ivory Coast and Cameroon in our qualifying group, we would have to work very hard to qualify," Tardelli told the Italian media on Thursday.

"But it has been a while since they have been to the World Cup and I have big hopes of qualifying."

In addition to his monthly $40,000 salary, the 1982 World Cup winner has been guaranteed a $100,000 bonus should he lead the Pharaohs to their first World Cup finals in sixteen years.

Tardelli, who is expected to begin work with Egypt on 1 April after signing a formal contract, said his decision to manage the North African team was influenced by the positive impression he got when he went to Egypt to negotiate with the country's FA.