Preview: Day 1

South Africa - Mexico      Soccer City, Johannesburg, 3pm (Irish time)

Uruguay - France      Green Point Stadium, Cape Town, 7:30pm

 

The countdown to this day began on June 29th 2008. Once Fernando Torres put the ball in the German net in Vienna attention shifted to the nest big date on the international football calender, and it is finally here. One year, eleven months and two weeks have passed in the meantime, 32 countries have made it, while up to 200 more have not. The next 32 days promise to be one of the finest exhibitions of the beautiful game the the world has ever seen, and all set in one of the planets most glorious locations. South Africa is ready, the teams are ready and the world is watching, all that's left is kick off.

At 3pm today the football gets underway. Locals and organisers will hope Mexico are the sacrificial lambs in Johannesburg this afternoon. While a successful home team is not necessarily that crucial, it is always welcome. With the growing support the Bafana Bafana have been getting from all over the country in the last few days, FIFA will be viewing that wave of patriotism as a necessity in the coming weeks. Nothing can spark a tournament like a successful home team, but that should only be as long as they play good football. South Korea just about entertained in 2002, but the pace and attacking style of the Red Devils shouldn't be expected of South Africa today.

Last weekends 1-0 win over an injury ravaged Danish team has set Bafana Bafana up for a confident start.

Mexico have been able to pursue this game quietly, as all the attention has been shifted to the home team.
The Mexicans have had the longest, most arduous build up of any team in the competition. Friendlies were played at home against Chile, in the US with Ecuador, Senegal and Angola, and then across Europe with varying degrees of success against England, Holland, Gambia and Italy. Victories in the last two of those fixtures and a decent performance at Wembley will have Javier Aguirre's team quietly confident, although a lot of pressure and attention will be placed on Manchester United bound Javier Hernandez. El Tri will know they need something from this game to qualify from their group for a fifth straight time.
The 12 game unbeaten run of South Africa has people believing the dream may actually be alive. All the country really wants is a place in the second round. A few favourable refereeing decisions may help that to happen, most notably today. Both teams have been prepared to the ultimate for this day and neither expects failure. Two weeks ago Mexico were a sure thing to spoil the party, but not anymore. A nation expects.

The second game of the day comes in under the radar. An under performing French team take on two time winners Uruguay in Cape Town at 7:30 this evening. Once the draw was made, envious Irish eyes looked upon Group A as a French cake walk, but circumstances have subsequently changed. Uruguay, Mexico and South Africa have all proven themselves to be capable and talented sides in the meantime, while France have descended into further chaos. 

Players have been discarded, captain Thierry Henry has been dropped and players have lost whatever confidence that was left in Raymond Domenech. Last weekends defeat in Reunion to China was the ultimate embarrassment for Les Bleus, but they still have eleven players with the individual capabilities to beat Uruguay tonight. The likes of Florent Malouda, new captain Patrice Evra, Hugo Lloris and central striker Nicolas Anelka should provide enough talent to get a result for Les Bleus.

Uruguay, however, will be confident following friendly wins over Israel (4-1) and in Switzwerland back in March (3-1). Diego Forlan, Luis Suarez and Sebastien Abreu have all been in good form and given a chance, they will score.

With the first games in Group A being potentially so important to the final group outcome expect them to be tense affairs, lacking in goals but not commitment. Either way, it should be a good start to the tournament, even if both games result in draws.