© Reuters 2002

STOCKHOLM, Jan 30 (Reuters) - Sweden goalkeeper Magnus Hedman has decided to stay clear of alcohol until after the World Cup, the Swedish daily newspaper Expressen reported on Wednesday.

"I haven't touched alcohol since October," said Hedman who helped his English first division side Coventry City to a 3-1 victory over Crystal Palace on Tuesday. "This is the first season that I'm completely clean."

"We have the World Cup ahead of us. I am trying to get into as good shape as possible and to be as well prepared as I can."

While Hedman said he had never been a heavy drinker, when he did drink at parties he normally didn't fully recover for three or four days and he expected more and more top soccer players to forego alcohol.

"Your body takes too much of a beating," he said. Sweden is drawn with England, Argentina and Nigeria in what many commentators have dubbed "the Group of Death".