World cup preview: South Africa Vs Mexico

South Africa Vs Mexico:

First match of 2010 football world cup has attained significance after slump in France form. Mexico and South Africa are favourites to advance to second round from Group A if they can maintain their recent form in warm-up games. First matches of world cup created sensation in 1990 and 2002 world cups. Who can forget Argentina’s loss to Cameroon in 1990 and France’s loss to Senegal in 2002 word cup?

For first time in recent world cup history, opening game is not featuring a top 10 ranked team. Out of form, France will take on Uruguay in other Group A game.

Match timing: June 11 at 7:30 PM IST (3PM GMT)

Venue: Soccer City stadium, Johannesburg.

Injuries: Both teams expected to feature full strength squads as there are no injury worries. But, Mexico coach committed a blunder by not picking talent player like Jonathan Dos Santos.

Key players:

Mexico: Rafael Marquez, Giovani Dos Santos, Guillermo Franco, Carlos Vela. But, my pick is Javier hernandez of Manchester United.

South Africa: Steven Pienaar is the only player in top 1000 in South African squad. Katlego Mphela and Teko Modise are in good form.

Squad analysis:

Mexico:

After losing to England and Holland, they regained confidence by winning against Gambia and Italy. They will try to top Group A as France is in deep trouble. Mexico squad is an ideal combination of experience and youth. If they top group A, they can go to even quarter-finals (their previous best performance in world cup). Mexico is peaking at right time just like South Africa. So, it will be a tight contest between in-form teams.

Experienced Blanco may come on as a substitute and can even change course of game as he did in qualifiers. Blanco may be “Roger Milla” of 2010 world cup.

Mexicans are technically efficient and are very fast on ground. Their forwards are in good form. South Africa needs to be at its best to control Mexicans. They need to control conceding goals and making needless fouls.

Probable Suqad: 

Goalkeepers: Oscar Perez/Guillermo Ochoa

Other members: Rafael Marquez,  Ricardo Osorio, Carlos Salcido, Rodriguez, Paul Aguilar, Efrain Juarez, Castro, Gerardo Torrado, Andres Guardado, Castro, Gerardo Torrado, Guillermo Franco, Giovani Dos Santos, Carlos Vela, Javier Hernandez.

South Africa:

They are inconsistent for last 1 year. They played very well against top teams like Brazil and Spain in Confederations cup and struggled in African cup. But, their form in warm-up games is very good. They go into this match high confidence after defeating Denmark just 6 days before Mexico game. No world cup host exited from tournament from group stage. They will try not to get that dubious distinction. These South Africans are playing like a unit under coach Carlos Perriera.

South Africa is the most improved squad in last 12 month and one of the most in-form teams in tournament. South Africa is the lowest ranked host in FIFA World cup history.

Coach guided Brazil to world cup glory in 1994 world cup and resigned after Suadi Arabia’s failure to reach second round in 1998 world cup. We will know about Carlos Alberto Parreira/s fate after group stage.

Final analysis:

Both teams are well acclimatized to high altitude stadiums. Mexico has advantage on forwards, big names and confidence due to victory over Italy. South Africa can count on home conditions, fans support and form. Mexico may find it difficult to beat South Africa which is unbeaften for last 12 games.

World Cup game Prediction:

High probability: South Africa may drew with Mexico in the first match of tournament (1-1)

Low Probability: Mexico may beat South Africa (1-0).

• It will be good for world cup if South Africa beats Mexico which will create euphoric atmosphere in host country.