Never can the unveiling of a World Cup suit have generated so much interest. And if Sven-Goran Eriksson's first press conference since revelations about his private life was short on substance about his bedroom activities, it contained two details that should be of more interest to England fans.

After saying he had no intention of quitting, the Swede insisted he will not be distracted from the task that awaits in Japan. With up to 100 journalists crammed into the room, Eriksson knew questions would focus less on the cut of his jacket than on his private life.

Sidestepping inquires about whether he preferred Ulrika Jonsson or Nancy Dell'Olio - "private life is private" - the England coach was happy to rebut suggestions that the furore might prompt him to leave his post.

Recent days, he admitted, had not been easy but the clear message was that it was business as usual. "I go on with my job," he added. "I try to be the best possible even if I have to use violence, more or less, to get into the car in the morning."

There was no sign of anger here. Perched on a stool that might have maximised his discomfort, Eriksson was as relaxed and inscrutable as ever. The very direct line of questioning from a large press audience may have differed from average post-match fare - "Do you still love Nancy?" - but his answers were typically careful.

England, it seems, need not worry that his team will now be exposed in Japan.

"It will not have a bearing," he said. "I would be very surprised. We are going to be prepared to do as well as possible when we see each other on May 13. I'm still excited about the World Cup. It hasn't changed anything. I have never been involved in one before."

Nor has he experienced such a voracious interest in his private affairs as in this country. He said the coverage given to his relationship with Jonsson, the UK television presenter, had not surprised him after he found reporters tracking family, former partners and friends to all parts of the globe when he took the England job. But he hardly enjoys it.

"I was used to Italy," he said. "I thought I had a very good schooling there, but it was just kindergarten." It was, he remarked, "not pleasant to be followed 24 hours a day, not by one person but by about 20".

Although he has been getting on with work, attending two matches at the weekend, he knows the revelations have affected others.

"My concern is that they disturbed a lot of people in this country, in Sweden and in Italy," he said. "I'm talking about parents, my ex-wife, my children. A lot of people. That's where my concerns are and I'm sorry for them there's a story like this."

Guardian Service