Only eight days to go! I am becoming ludicrously excited about the World Cup, and so it’s about time to get started on the group-by-group team preview. One will be posted here every day and then on Friday the 11th, the real action starts.
GROUP A
South Africa
FIFA World Ranking: 83
Team Colours: Yellow shirts with green trim, green shorts with yellow trim, yellow socks. Away kit is the inverse.
Manager: 67-year-old Brazilian Carlos Alberto Parreira is in his second spell in charge of South Africa, having previously resigned in April 2008 before being brought back in October last year. He is hugely well-traveled, and shared the world record of having been one of only two coaches to take four different teams to a World Cup (Kuwait in 1982, UAE in 1990, Brazil in 1994 and 2006, and Saudi Arabia in 1998). He will catch up with the man who overtook him, the Serbian Bora Milutinovic, this summer. He’s also managed in Ghana, Turkey, and the USA, so certainly won’t be short for knowledge, but he doesn’t have a great deal to work with.
Form: As hosts, South Africa did not have to qualify for this tournament, although ironically a lack of competitive football was exactly what this team did not need. They finished fourth at the dress-rehearsal tournament the Confederations Cup last summer and performed reasonably well though they failed to beat a big team.
Captain: Aaron Mokoena has endured a pretty horrific season with relegated penniless scumbags (bias mine) Portsmouth, where he has at least been able to get plenty of defending practice in. The 29-year-old is a solid defensive midfielder who can play at centre-half as well, and he celebrated winning his 100th cap in their last friendly against Guatemala, where he wore the squad number 100 to commemorate the occasion. He will need to prove himself an inspirational leader, though, to help his country through their group.
Key Man: Undoubtedly Everton’s sought-after midfielder Steven Pienaar, who is the only touch of real class in the South African squad. He can play wide on either side or as an advanced midfielder through the middle, and you can be sure that Bafana Bafana will constantly be aiming to give him the ball in the hope that his silky dribbling can work some magic.
Man to Watch: With Benni McCarthy omitted due to lack of fitness, 32-year-old striker Siyabonga Nomvethe has been given a chance to return to the international fold having been overlooked for the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations and the Confederations Cup last summer. He doesn’t have an outstanding scoring record for club or country but is by far the most experienced of the short-staffed South African frontline and will need to step up if South Africa are to have any chance.
Prediction: Everyone wants to see the hosts do well at the World Cup but realistically, South Africa are not going to progress from this group. (There aren’t many groups they would get out of.) They just don’t have enough quality players to make an impact at this tournament and would do well to get a single win against any of the other teams in the group. Fourth place in Group A beckons.
Squad List:
Goalkeepers
1. Shu-Aib Walters (Maritzburg United)
16. Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs)
22. Moeneeb Josephs (Orlando Pirates)
Defenders
4. Aaron Mokoena, captain (Portsmouth)
14. Matthew Booth (Mamelodi Sundowns)
3. Tsepo Masilela (Maccabi Haifa)
2. Siboniso Gaxa (Mamelodi Sundowns)
5. Lucas Thwala (Orlando Pirates)
19. Anele Ngcongca (Genk)
20. Bongani Khumalo (SuperSport United)
21. Siyabonga Sangweni (Golden Arrows)
Midfielders
6. MacBeth Siwaya (Rubin Kazan)
10. Steven Pienaar (Everton)
11. Teko Modise (Orlando Pirates)
8. Siphiwe Tshabalala (Kaizer Chiefs)
13. Kagisho Dikgacoi (Fulham)
17. Surprise Moriri (Mamelodi Sundowns)
7. Lance Davids (Ajax Cape Town)
23. Thanduyise Khuboni (Golden Arrows)
12. Reneilwe Letsholonyane (Kaizer Chiefs)
Forwards
15. Siyabonga Nomvethe (Moroka Swallows)
9. Katlego Mphela (Mamelodi Sundowns)
15. Bernard Parker (FC Twente)
MEXICO
FIFA World Ranking: 17
Team Colours: Green shirts with red trim, white shorts with red trim, white socks with red trim. Away kit is all black with red trim everywhere and some green trim on the shirts.
Manager: In his last spell in charge of Mexico, Javier Aguirre took his country to the last 16 in 2002 without hugely impressing. He has since enjoyed a successful period at the helm of Osasuna in Spain, whom he took to an unexpected Champions League qualification in 2006. After that he went to Atletico Madrid, whom he returned to a strong position in the Spanish league following some poor previous seasons. Despite returning them to the Champions League he was sacked in 2009, which turned out to be just in time to bail out ailing Mexico. Has a reputation of being somewhat difficult to get along with.
Form: Under the management of Sven-Goran Eriksson, Mexico’s qualifying campaign started poorly, with the team struggling to impress themselves on their opponents, and only scraped through to the final phase of qualifying on goal difference over Jamaica. Losses against Honduras and the USA in the first three games of the final phase saw Sven removed and replaced with Aguirre, who, despite a bad start, losing 2-1 to El Salvador of all people, revitalised the team who eventually qualified with a game to spare. Have been impressive since, their stylish display against England in a recent friendly evidence of their youthful verve in attack.
Captain: Cultured defender-midfielder Rafael Marquez was surprisingly replaced by Aguirre as captain in favour of the more tenacious midfield general Gerardo Torrado. The Cruz Azul captain is amusingly known as “El Borrego” or “The Sheep” for his bushy hairstyle. Spent the first half of the 2000s in Spain but never managed to hold down a regular place at any of his several clubs there, but has prospered back home in Mexico resulting in his elevation to the international captaincy. A strong, bustling player, Torrado is highly influential for Mexico.
Key Man: PSV Eindhoven left-back Carlos Salcido is an adventurous, attacking full-back whom Mexico are keen to utilise at every opportunity. The 30-year-old perhaps doesn’t posess the technical ability of some of his teammates but his work rate and determination are second to none and you can expect to see him pop up on the left wing frequently. If opponents can shut him down they limit Mexico’s attacking options.
Man to Watch: It’s hard to look past Manchester United-bound striker Javier Hernandez, who has recently burst onto the international scene with 7 goals in 11 games on the back of a similarly promising scoring rate for his hometown club Guadalajara. Looks pacy and exciting, and will likely be used by Aguirre as a secret weapon coming off the bench to finish teams off.
Prediction: Having recovered from the poor Sven era, Aguirre’s side look an exciting prospect. There are plenty of options in a youthful forward line (as well as 37-year-old veteran Cuauhtemoc Blanco, coaxed out of retirement by Aguirre) who can do all kinds of damage to teams who are not prepared for it. They have an excellent chance of claiming top spot in the group and could go quite far, realistically the quarter-finals.
Squad List:
Goalkeepers
1. Oscar Perez (unattached)
13. Guillermo Ochoa (America)
23. Luis Ernesto Michel (Guadalajara)
Defenders
2. Francisco Javier Rodriguez (PSV)
3. Carlos Salcido (PSV)
4. Rafael Marquez (Barcelona)
5. Ricardo Osorio (unattached)
12. Paul Aguilar (Pachuca)
15. Hector Moreno (AZ Alkmaar)
16. Efrain Juarez (Pumas)
19. Jonny Magallon (Guadalajara)
20. Jorge Torres Nilo (Tigres)
Midfielders
6. Gerardo Torrado, captain (Cruz Azul)
8. Israel Castro (Pumas)
18. Andres Guardado (Deportivo La Coruna)
Forwards
7. Pablo Barrera (Pumas)
9. Guillermo Franco (unattached)
10. Cuauhtemoc Blanco (Veracruz)
11. Carlos Vela (Arsenal)
14. Javier Hernandez (Manchester United)
17. Giovani Dos Santos (Tottenham)
21. Adolfo Bautista (Guadalajara)
22. Alberto Medina (Guadalajara)
URUGUAY
FIFA World Ranking: 16
Team Colours: Blue shirts with white trim, black shorts, black socks. Away kit is white with blue trim.
Manager: 63-year-old Oscar Tabarez, another manager in his second spell in charge of his team, having previously led Uruguay in Italia ’90. Plenty of experience, having managed Boca Juniors and Cagliari twice, as well as a short spell some years ago with A.C. Milan.
Form: Uruguay nearly benefited from Diego Maradona’s managerial circus to qualify automatically from the CONMEBOL group, but eventually had to settle for their third straight play-off, overcoming Costa Rica to return to the tournament, having missed out in 2006 at the hands of Australia. They scored more goals than Paraguay and Argentina who finished ahead of them in qualifying, and they do look more competent in attack than defence.
Captain: 29-year-old centre-back Diego Lugano is Uruguay’s best defensive asset, who scored one of the crucial goals to get the team past Costa Rica. Can be somewhat temperamental (something of a tradition for Uruguayan captains) and also likes to make the odd expedition into the opponent’s box. Uruguay will need him to be at the top of his game.
Key Man: You can’t look past experienced striker Diego Forlan, who since enduring a torrid time at Manchester United has been reborn in Spain at first Villareal and now Atletico Madrid, scoring at just about a goal every other game for the past six years and frequently topping the La Liga scoring charts. He is the man who Uruguay will turn to to power their way out of the group, and if he can get the service, he will put them away.
Man to Watch: Ajax’s exciting 23-year-old forward Luis Suarez will play just behind Forlan in the Uruguayan starting lineup, and can also play on the wing if necessary. Has a phenomenal scoring record for the Dutch club of 74 goals in 97 games, and manager Martin Jol entrusted the youngster with the club captaincy following the departure of Thomas Vermaelen to Arsenal. Together with Forlan he forms a potent front line that every team in this group will be scared of.
Prediction: If Forlan and Suarez can fire then Uruguay could surprise a few people. Much will depend on their first game against vulnerable France. If Uruguay can get a result in that game it should give them the confidence to capitalise and get out of this group, but if not their frailer defense may see them overtaken by France and Mexico. I reckon they may just sneak through at France’s expense.
Squad List:
Goalkeepers
1. Fernando Muslera (Lazio)
12. Juan Castillo (Deportivo Cali)
23. Martin Silva (Defensor Sporting)
Defenders
2. Diego Lugano, captain (Fenerbahce)
3. Diego Godin (Villareal)
4. Jorge Fucile (Porto)
6. Mauricio Victorino (Universidad de Chile)
16. Maxi Pereira (Benfica)
19. Andres Scotti (Colo Colo)
22. Martin Caceres (Juventus)
Midfielders
5. Walter Gargano (Napoli)
8. Sebastien Eguren (AIK)
11. Alvaro Pereira (Porto)
14. Nicolas Lodeiro (Ajax)
15. Diego Perez (Monaco)
17. Egidio Arevalo Rios (Penarol)
18. Ignacio Gonzalez (Valencia)
20. Alvaro Fernandez (Universidad de Chile)
Forwards
7. Edison Cavani (Palermo)
9. Luis Suarez (Ajax)
10. Diego Forlan (Atletico Madrid)
13. Sebastian Abreu (Botafogo)
21. Sebastian Fernandez (Banfield)
FRANCE
FIFA World Ranking: 10
Team Colours: Blue shirts with red and white trim, white shorts with blue trim, red socks with white trim. Away kit is white with thin red and blue stripes and trim, blue shorts with white trim, white socks with blue trim.
Manager: Raymond Domenech is to leave his post at the end of this competition, and it is utterly inexplicable why it has taken the French authorities so long to ask him to do so. Since taking control of Les Bleus in 2004, Domenech has been making ridiculous tactical and selectional decisions left, right and centre, and has been dining out on France’s fluky road to the final in 2006. As a keen astrologer, he admitted publicly that the reason he did not pick Robert Pires was because he “distrusted Scorpios”, and after the 2006 World Cup when Claude Makelele announced his retirement from international football, Domenech quite insultingly announced that he would keep calling up Makelele regardless, saying “as long as he can walk, he will play. I have the right to pick him”. French fans will be rejoicing at the news that Bordeaux’s Laurent Blanc is to replace him after the tournament, but will be desperately wishing that he was already in charge.
Form: A highly uninspiring qualifying tournament saw France finish second behind Serbia and requiring a play-off against the Republic of Ireland to make it through, and we all know what happened there. France, as they always have been under Domenech, have been deeply average and underperforming recently, and there seems little reason to get excited about this team.
Captain: Disgraced cheater Thierry Henry says he will not have a problem with being used as a supersub, having replaced Nicolas Anelka from the bench in recent games. This is a rare astute decision by Domenech, as Anelka is in the form of his life and Henry has passed his peak. The va-va-voomster does still have something to offer but is no longer the world-beater that he used to be, as evidenced by his expected imminent move to the New York Red Bulls. William Gallas will probably start with the armband in his absence.
Key Man: No question about it, Franck Ribery is the main man for France. His presence was sorely missed by his club Bayern Munich in the Champions League final this year, and his highly intelligent wing play will be the main attacking outlet for France this summer. A successful tournament could elevate him to the top tier of players in the world today.
Man to Watch: Look out for Bordeaux’s hugely exciting playmaker Yoann Gourcuff. At 23, he should already be the focal point of the French midfield, but of course isn’t under Domenech. He has an astonishing range of passing and will get forward and make things happen. If he is given the proper freedom to play his game, he and Ribery could make France great to watch. (If that doesn’t happen, you can be sure that Blanc will build the team around him in future.)
Prediction: On paper France have a decent squad with potential to play some really exciting football. However, everything comes down to how badly Raymond Domenech is going to mess this team around. He doesn’t know how to make them play well and he doesn’t know how to change a game when things aren’t going his way. Unfortunately I don’t think France should expect a particularly successful campaign, and, as said above, that first game against Uruguay will be crucial. I think the winner of that game will join Mexico in the second round, and I have a sneaky feeling that that winner will not be France.
Squad List:
Goalkeepers
1. Hugo Lloris (Lyon)
16. Steve Mandanda (Marseille)
23. Cedric Carrasso (Bordeaux)
Defenders
2. Bacary Sagna (Arsenal)
3. Eric Abidal (Barcelona)
4. Anthony Reveillere (Lyon)
5. William Gallas (Arsenal)
6. Marc Planus (Bordeaux)
13. Patrice Evra (Manchester United)
17. Sebastien Squillaci (Sevilla)
21. Gael Clichy (Arsenal)
Midfielders
8. Yoann Gourcuff (Bordeaux)
10. Mathieu Valbuena (Marseille)
14. Jeremy Toulalan (Lyon)
15. Florent Malouda (Chelsea)
18. Alou Diarra (Bordeaux)
20. Abou Diaby (Arsenal)
22. Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich)
Forwards
7. Sidney Govou (Lyon)
9. Djibril Cisse (Panathinaikos)
11. Andre-Pierre Gignac (Toulouse)
12. Thierry Henry (Barcelona)
19. Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea)
Posted by George Ankers 
georgeankers.com 