Football's greatest show on earth kicks off today
Friday, 11 June 2010
JOHANNESBURG, June 10 (AFP): The curtain rises on Friday on the first World Cup staged by Africa with Group A rivals South Africa, Mexico, France and Uruguay in action on the opening day of the month-long tournament.
Bafana Bafana (The Boys) face Mexico at the 90,000-seat Soccer City stadium in Soweto while France and Uruguay clash later at Cape Town Stadium in the other Group A fixture.
France, Uruguay and Mexico rank among the top 20 football nations in the world with South Africa lagging behind in 83rd place, but they have tradition on their side with no host nation failing to reach the second round.
South Africa are banking on huge home support from a crowd blowing deafening plastic vuvuzela trumpets and the presence of world political icon Nelson Mandela to inspire Aaron Mokoena and his team.
Everton midfielder Steven Pienaar apart, South Africa lack high-profile footballers but training camps in Brazil, Germany and South Africa have reaped reward with the national team unbeaten in 12 warm-up matches.
Mexico boast a mix of youth and experience led by Barcelona veteran Rafael Marquez and would be hot favourites to triumph were the opening match anywhere but South Africa.
Spectators, who will watch an opening ceremony two hours before the 1400GMT kick-off, would not complain if they get a repeat of the 2006 opener goal feast that ended with a 4-2 victory for Germany over Costa Rica.
Germany, given little hope then despite an impressive World Cup pedigree, went on to finish third behind Italy and France, but that seems an unrealistic target for Bafana.
While President Jacob Zuma hopes to hand the trophy to Mokoena on July 11, many South Africans believe surviving the first round would be a wonderful achievement and a quarter-finals place miraculous.
Bafana Bafana (The Boys) face Mexico at the 90,000-seat Soccer City stadium in Soweto while France and Uruguay clash later at Cape Town Stadium in the other Group A fixture.
France, Uruguay and Mexico rank among the top 20 football nations in the world with South Africa lagging behind in 83rd place, but they have tradition on their side with no host nation failing to reach the second round.
South Africa are banking on huge home support from a crowd blowing deafening plastic vuvuzela trumpets and the presence of world political icon Nelson Mandela to inspire Aaron Mokoena and his team.
Everton midfielder Steven Pienaar apart, South Africa lack high-profile footballers but training camps in Brazil, Germany and South Africa have reaped reward with the national team unbeaten in 12 warm-up matches.
Mexico boast a mix of youth and experience led by Barcelona veteran Rafael Marquez and would be hot favourites to triumph were the opening match anywhere but South Africa.
Spectators, who will watch an opening ceremony two hours before the 1400GMT kick-off, would not complain if they get a repeat of the 2006 opener goal feast that ended with a 4-2 victory for Germany over Costa Rica.
Germany, given little hope then despite an impressive World Cup pedigree, went on to finish third behind Italy and France, but that seems an unrealistic target for Bafana.
While President Jacob Zuma hopes to hand the trophy to Mokoena on July 11, many South Africans believe surviving the first round would be a wonderful achievement and a quarter-finals place miraculous.