South Africa World Cup 2010 Group A: South Africa

GROUP A

South Africa Mexico Uruguay France

*South Africa

* = Seeded Team
[Team Jersey Images © Soccerphile]

Road to South Africa

It couldn't have been easier, on the field at least as South Africa's off the field preparations are complex and stressful in the extreme, as they qualified as hosts. It was a good job too as the team actually participated in the qualification campaign that also doubled up as entry to the African Cup of Nations. It didn't go well as Bafana Bafana didn't even make it to the final round collecting just seven points from six games in a group containing Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Equatorial Guinea.

Fixtures

South Africa Copyright © Soccerphile	South Africa Copyright © Soccerphile

South Africa v Mexico 11 June; Johannesburg
South Africa v Uruguay 16 June; Pretoria
South Africa v France 22 June; Bloemfontein

Analysis

At least Africa hands competitive preparation to its World Cup host although South Africa didn't take advantage of that offer. Those performances only added to the big fear. That fear is that South Africa will be the first hosts in World Cup history not to make it past the first round. It cost Joel Santana his job. The Brazilian never fitted in and never managed to gain the affections of the press and the people. The Confederations Cup was, in the end, regarded as a limited success and the team reached the last four after narrow defeats to Spain and Brazil. There were worries about the team's inability to score but the run of nine games without a win cost Santana his job.

The subsequent debate centred on whether the FA should go overseas one more time or local - Guus Hiddink's World Cup failure with Russia was just around the corner but former boss Carlos Alberto Parreira is still well-regarded in the Rainbow Nation and got his old job back.

What he needs to do over the next few months is to instill a sense of confidence in the players and try to get them to see having the nation sat behind them expectantly as a good thing rather than a burden.

© City of Johannesburg South African National Team

Key player: Steven Pienaar

The Everton dynamo makes Bafana tick in the middle of the pitch. He is everywhere and helps out in defence and well as offers an attacking threat. He is taking over from Benni McCarthy, a player whose absence from the national team of late is the talking point in bars from Joburg to Durban, as the talisman and the old cliché runs true - if Pienaar plays well then South Africa play well. He needs to stay injury-free, something he hasn't managed yet so far this season, and the condition in which he arrives back in the Rainbow Nation could have a big influence on the hosts' mood and chances.

One to watch: Teko Modise

Barely a week goes by without the Orlando Pirates wide man being linked to a European club. The World Cup is the ultimate shop window and if Modise can show his skills to a wider audience then he will be heading north, with the blessings of club boss Rudi Krol. Takes a mean free-kick and on his day, can run full-backs ragged.

Coach: Carlos Alberto Parreira

The Brazilian is back in South Africa for a second spell in charge of Bafana Bafana. The 66-year-old has worked all over the world but couldn't resist a chance to lead the host nation at the World Cup.

This will be his sixth appearance at the World Cup. He won the tournament with Brazil in 1994 and returned in 2006 but could only manage a quarter-final finish. Other appearances include Kuwait in 1982, UAE in 1990 and Saudi Arabia in 1998.

It was a no-lose situation as success, a place in the knockout stage, will guarantee instant hero status while if bafana do fall at the first hurdle then Parreira is sure to be talking about the lack of preparation time.

Record

1998, 2002 group stage

FIFA Ranking

Predictions & Latest Odds

First round exit on the cards if the pressure tells.
World Cup Betting

How they qualified

As hosts.

On the sidelines

Ranked 85 by FIFA (December 09) just one place above the lowest-ranked team North Korea.
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Soccerphile says

At the draw in Cape Town in December and indeed around the world, it was widely expected that South Africa would receive a fairly favourable draw. That didn't happen. The appearance of France, the top ranked team of the second pot, quickly dampened the mood in the Mother City and the additions of Mexico and Uruguay did little to restore smiles. This is a tough group. Home advantage is the one advantage that the team has and there are going to be 95,000 fans on the opening day, the majority of whom will be cheering the hosts against Mexico. A good start is imperative if the expectation doesn't evaporate into pressure.

Overall though, it looks as if that South Africa just don't have the quality to avoid the dreaded tag of "first hosts to fall at the first hurdle."

The Squad

Goalkeepers: Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs), Moeneeb Josephs (Orlando Pirates), Shuaib Walters (Maritzburg United)
Defenders: Siboniso Gaxa (Sundowns), Anele Ngcongca (Genk), Aaron Mokoena (Portsmouth), Matthew Booth (Sundowns), Bongani Khumalo (SuperSport United), Siyabonga Sangweni (Golden Arrows), Tsepo Masilela (Maccabi Haifa), Lucas Thwala (Orlando Pirates)
Midfielders: Teko Modise (Orlando Pirates), Lance Davids (Ajax Cape Town), Reneilwe Letsholonyane (Kaizer Chiefs), MacBeth Sibaya (Rubin Kazan), Thanduyise Khuboni (Golden Arrows), Kagiso Dikgacoi (Fulham), Steven Pienaar (Everton), Siphiwe Tshabalala (Kaizer Chiefs)
Forwards: Surprise Moriri (Sundowns), Bernard Parker (FC Twente), Katlego Mphela (Sundowns), Siyabonga Nomvethe (Moroka Swallows)

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