South Africa 1 - 1 Mexico - match facts

Group A South Africa 1 - 1 Mexico

Tshabalala (55) Marquez (79)

Shots on-target 3 3

Shots off-target 6 8

Corners 4 5

Offsides 4 6

Yellow Cards 2 2

Red Cards 0 0

Possession 35% 65%

All Square in Opening Game

Bafana Bafana drew their first game 1-1 with Mexico today. The host nation sent their fans into raptures when Siphiwe Tshabalala's ferocious strike arrowed in to the top corner on 55 minutes. It was a goal worthy to win any World Cup match. Mexico were superb in the first half and deserved to be leading at half time. They started the second half slowly and lacked the fluidity they had in the first half.

After conceding they respond well, the introductions of the experienced Cuahtemoc Blanco and the lively Andres Guardado, sparked more creativity. In the 79th minute it was Guardado's cross that found Rafael Marquez who stuck the ball past Khune in goal. The vuvuzelas were distinctly silenced when the Mexicans equalised. It was a great curtain raiser, colour and pride streamed through Soccer City, a great day for Africa and the world.

Star man: Giovani Dos Santos. His direct running and pace caused South Africa problems all game.



Ant Myers

Argentina v Nigeria Preview

With the players that Argentina have at their disposal you’d be forgiven for expecting this to be a comfortable win for them. However, after a very poor qualifying campaign which saw them leave it until the last game to seal their place in South Africa, the Argentineans aren’t looking as powerful as they once were.

Having used 107 players during the qualifying campaign, yes that’s right 107, Argentina are more like individuals than a team which may work against them in the World Cup. Though in fairness to Argentina, what a fantastic group of individuals they have; Messi, Tevez, Higuain, Aguero – all good attacking players.

Nigeria also have some quality in the attacking positions through Martins, Yakubu and the crafty Kanu. Both sides will be going for the win in the opening game of Group B which will hopefully give us a nice open game with plenty of goals, though don’t be surprised to see a nervy display lacking in excitement.

Although Nigeria have a strong squad I feel Argentina will have too much skill and ability for the Nigerians to handle.

Watch the game live in high quality flash at - http://www.flashsportstreams.com/forum/


Carl Leighton

Group C

Teams:
England
USA
Algeria
Slovenia

The good thing about Group C is that it is quite an open group. Don’t be fooled by the average man on the street or the English media, England aren’t as strong as they are made out to be. There’s no getting away from the fact that England have a good side, no team can go through qualification suffering only one defeat if they don’t have some class about them.

The squad, as always, has no real surprises to it – though how Joe Cole managed to get a seat on the plane after so little playing time is quite incredible.

After a great deal of progress the Americans now have a side which, if they aren’t taken seriously, could quite easily cause an upset or two through their campaign.

With plenty of household names in their squad such as; Tim Howard of Everton, Fulham’s Clint Dempsey and AC Milan’s Oguchi Onyewu – who has recently announced he will play next season for free - the US boast experience and flare in their squad.

The Algerian squad also features some well known names in European football; Karim Ziani of Wolfsburg, Rangers defender Madjid Bougherra and one of their star players, Nadir Belhadj are all players to be on the lookout for.

Algeria are another side which may look like an easy opponent to some but they certainly won’t be; they are strong at the back and through Ziani and Mourad Mehni, have a spark going forward. Though of course this is the World Cup, there won’t be any games which can be described as being ‘easy’.

Slovenia are the fourth and final team in Group C and are the underdogs of the group. West Brom’s Robert Koren will provide attacking flare in a side which scored 18 times on the road to qualification, conceding only four which is an impressive return and shows they are strong at the back.
Although Slovenia did well in qualifying, the group may just be a little bit too tough for them to get out of.

Final Standings Prediction
It’s as you were for this group I feel, with England leading the group. The US and Algeria will battle fiercely for second spot, though I think the United States will have enough to clinch second place.

Carl Leighton

Group B -Predictions and Preview

1^st Argentina

2^nd Nigeria

3^rd Greece

4^th South Korea

Although some people might say this group is not very interesting it has the possibility of being one of the most interesting. It has a team which should easily walk the group (but might not) followed by 3 other teams who are closely matched and any of them could achieve second place.

First-Argentina, a lot of people see Messi, Tevez, Aguero, Higuain and think Argentina will have no problems. The problem they have is these are all forwards and Argentina are not so strong at the other end of the pitch. In Maradonna they have one of the greatest players ever but hes not as great manager. He has used over 100 players during a less than stellar qualifying campaign. With the talent he has its very questionable if he has the tactical awareness and man management to maximize his team’s potential. I think they will still top the group but would not be surprised if they have at least 1 match where things do not go there way.

Second - Nigeria are playing in there home continent which should spur them on. However it could also provide a huge amount of pressure to perform which the Super Eagles could flourish or flounder under. They came 3^rd in the African cup of nations whereas Ivory Coast who are much more fancied in this tournament could only reach the quarter finals. They are a very physical, quick and fit team who on there day could be trouble for anyone. They have a real chance of achieving second place; it will depend on how they handle the pressure and if they keep there discipline.

Third - Greece play only one way, they get a massive blue and white double decker bus and park it directly in front of their goal then counter attack.at times it can be very boring to watch but it can also be very effective. They proved this by winning EURO 2004. When they do concede and have to change their style of play to chase the game they can struggle. The Greeks could frustrate an Argentinean side who might find it difficult to score which could then lead to a loss of discipline and a shock result. Greece could lose every game or win every game by 1 goal, though more than likely losing more than they win. They shocked us in 2004 they could shock us all again.

Fourth – South Korea, gone are the glory days of Guss Hiddink and a tournament on home soil. They have Park Ji-Sung, who is so popular that in famous shaving adverts which include Tiger Woods, Roger Federer and Thierry Henry, Henry is replaced by Park Ji-Sung in South Korea. They have a few other capable players but probably not enough to reach second place but enough to cause the other teams problems. I think if they do reach second it will be more a case of other teams under performing.

Chris Guest

Group A

Group A is really hard to call, all four teams will be realistically hoping to progress. Host nation South Africa have the weakest squad, but with massive home support and the Vuvuzela's, they will be a dangerous team to face. There's no doubt that France have the strongest squad, they have great strength and depth at their disposal. However, with coach Raymond Domenech at the helm, the team looks completely disjointed and bankrupt of ideas. If stars like Lionel Ribery and Nicolas Anelka perform, then they have a chance of a successful tournament.

Mexico have a real chance of making it through, they have a good team spirit and can dominate sides with their precise passing. If they could get a draw today, it would give them something to build on. For me, Uruguay could be this year's dark horse, pace, power and work ethic runs through the team and not forgetting the strike duo of Forlan and Suarez. I have tipped them to beat France tonight and if they do, they will be in the Group A driving seat.

Prediction: Uruguay and South Africa to advance. France to crash out and Mexico just falling short.


Ant Myers

The Group Of Death

Every four years, the World Cup draws a highly competitive and entertaining group. This group is more commonly referred to as the "Group Of Death", and this year that prestigious mantle goes to Group G.

Whilst South Africa is in a state of eager anticipation following on from the hugely successful opening concert containing the Black Eyed Peas, for the neutrals it is the group of death that is the headline act at world cup finals. This time round Brazil, Portugal, The Ivory Coast and the seemingly hapless North Korea have found themselves in the most difficult group.

The Portuguese only have themselves to blame for finding themselves in this group after a poor qualifying campaign left then needing to win a play-off tie with Boznia and Herzegovina, which they did 2-0 on aggregate. However it is thought qualification from Group G will be just as difficult for the Portuguese, with the Ivory Coast prepared to mount a real challenge, alongside Brazil who are widely expected to top the group.

What is interesting about this years Group of Death is that arguably the race for second place is more intriguing than the race for first as Dunga's ruthless Brazilians are seen as almost sure things to qualify in first place. Who will end up qualifying in second place is anyone's guess as it is almost impossible to separate the Ivory Coast and Portugal, whilst North Korea have a history of upsets, having stunned Italy way back in 1966 although a similar upset seems unlikely.

Fixtures

15th June:

Ivory Coast VS Portugal (Port Elizabeth) Prediction: 1-1

Brazil VS North Korea ( Johannesburg) Prediction: 4-0

20th June:

Brazil VS Ivory Coast ( Johannesburg) Prediction: 2-1

21st June:

Portugal VS North Korea ( Cape Town) Prediction: 3-1

25th June:

Portugal VS Brazil ( Durban) Prediction: 1-1

North Korea VS Ivory Coast ( Nelspruit) Prediction: 0-2

Paul Seed