This is the first of an 8-part series looking at each group, one at a time, for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, starting with Group A, which includes South Africa, Mexico, France and Uruguay.
South Africa
Current FIFA ranking: 86
Nick name: Bafana Bafana (The boys, the boys)
Main kit: Gold with green trim
Key players: Aaron Mokoena (captain) (Portsmouth); Benni McCarthy (Blackburn Rovers); Stephen Pienaar (Everton)
Route to 2010: qualified as host
Recent results:
17 November 2009: Jamaica, 0-0 draw, in Bloemfontein, South Africa
14 November 2009: Japan, 0-0 draw, in Port Elizabeth, South Africa
13 October 2009: Iceland, 1-0 loss, in Reykjavik, Iceland
10 October 2009: Norway, 1-0 loss, in Oslo, Norway
19 September 2009: Madagascar, 1-0 win, in Kimberley South Africa
Recent results against group opponents:
8 July 2005: Mexico, 2-1 win, in Carson, USA
Honours:
1996: African Cup of Nations, 1st place
World Cup history:
First round appearances in 1998 and 2002 for one win, three draws and two losses, 8 goals for, 12 goals against.
South Africa met France in the 1998 World Cup in the group stages, and went down to the host and eventual winner: 3-0.
Their only World Cup win was a 1-0 win against Slovenia in 2002.
Comments: The recent record and FIFA ranking do not lie – South Africa is ranked behind both North Korea and New Zealand. South Africa has failed to score a goal in its last four friendlies (all against weak football powers), and their last win was almost three months ago against the lowly ranked Madagascar.
South Africa has a few players in the Premier League, and another few in the Eredivisie, but most of the squad plays in the local Premier Soccer League.
Its opponents are all ranked within the top 20 (a surprising statistic), meaning that Bafana Bafana will have its work cut out for it.
Their one saving grace is that no host nation has ever failed to get out of the group stage – and that statistic includes some fairly ordinary past hosts (but there’s always a first time).
The other factor Bafana Bafana supporters will be counting on, apart from home ground support, is that despite their high rankings, their rivals are not necessarily consistent performers in such tournaments (although Mexico has turned that around the last 15 years).
Mexico
Current FIFA ranking: 15
Nick name: El Tri
Main kit: Light green, white shorts, red socks.
Key players: Carlos Vela (Arsenal); Carlos Salcido (PSV); Hector Moreno (AZ); Andres Guardado (Deportivo); Rafael Marquez (Barcelona); Guillermo Franco (West Ham)
Route to 2010: Came second to the USA in the CONCACAF final round of group matches. Managed home wins against all its other five opponents, including a 2-1 win against the USA. Most tellingly, it had a 3-0 away win against Costa Rica which helped set up its qualification.
Recent results:
5 September 2009: Costa Rica, 3-0 win, San Jose, Costa Rica
9 September 2009: Honduras, 1-0 win, Mexico City
30 September 2009: Columbia, 2-1 loss, Dallas, USA
10 October 2009: El Salvador, 4-1 win, Mexico City
14 October 2009: Trinidad and Tobago, 2-2 draw, Port of Spain, T&T
Recent results against group opponents:
15 October 2003: Uruguay, 2-0 loss, Chicago, USA
7 July 2004: Uruguay, 2-2 draw, Chicago, USA
8 July 2005: South Africa, 2-1 loss, in Carson, USA
14 July 2007: Uruguay, 3-1 win, Caracas, Venezuela
Honours:
CONCACAF champions in 1965, 1971 and 1977
CONCACAF Gold Cup: 1993, 1996, 1998, 2003, 2009
Confederations Cup: 1st place in 1999 and 3rd place in 1995
World Cup history:
South Africa will represent Mexico’s 14th appearance at the World Cup, which looks like a decent record on the face of it, except its record in the early years is nothing short of woeful.
In six appearances from 1930 to 1966, El Tri won only the one game and never went past the first round.
Mexico managed to reach the quarter finals when they first hosted the event in 1970, and again when they next hosted it in 1986.
Since then, Mexico’s record has been reasonable, making it out of the group stage on four consecutive occasions from 1994 to 2006.
They were involved in one of the more memorable world cup games in 2006 against Argentina with Maxi Rodriguez scoring a stunning winner in extra time.
An interesting historical side note: Tunisia became the first African country to win a World Cup game when they defeated Mexico in 1978.
France defeated Mexico 4-1 in 1930 and 3-2 in 1950.
In 1966, all of France, Uruguay and Mexico found themselves in the same group as that of the host nation, England. Mexico managed draws against both France and Uruguay, and finished in 3rd place, above France.
Comments: As I mentioned above, after many barren decades in the World Cup (qualifying for many years as the only half decent North American country), Mexico have had a remarkably consistent run in the last four World Cups, getting past the group stage on each occasion.
On two occasions, in 1998 and 2002, they had Italy’s measure.
It has to be remembered that in that time Mexico has engaged a bit more with the South Americans, and a few Mexicans have made their way to the top European clubs.
They would feel that they know all about Uruguay and their recent good record against La Celeste would give them confidence of gaining three points there, putting Mexico in the box seat to proceed to the next round for the fifth consecutive time.
Uruguay
Current FIFA ranking: 19
Nick names: Charruas; La Celeste Olimpica (The Olympic Sky Blue); La Celeste (The Sky Blue)
Main kit: Sky blue, black shorts and socks
Key players: Diego Lugano (Fenerbahce); Diego Godin (Villareal); Maxi Pereira (Benfica); Martin Caceres (Juventus); Walter Gargano (Napoli); Sebastian Eguren (Villareal); Diego Perez (Monaco); Luis Suarez (Ajax); Diego Forlan (Atletico Madrid); Sebastian Abreu (Thessalonik)
Route to 2010: For the third consecutive World Cup qualifier, Uruguay finished 5th in the CONMEBOL qualifiers resulting in a play off with Cost Rica, which they won on aggregate 2-1.
Uruguay didn’t fair too well against the top four teams, it’s best result being a home 2-0 win against Paraguay. La celeste scored some big home wins against the bottom two teams, 5-0 against Bolivia and 6-0 agaisnt Peru.
The most telling result was a 2-1 away win against the team that finished directly below them, Ecuador – the only game Ecuador lost on home territory.
Recent results:
14 November 2009, Costa Rica, 1-0 win, San Jose, Costa Rica
18 November 2009, Costa Rica, 1-1 draw, Montevideo, Uruguay
Recent results against group opponents:
15 October 2003: Mexico, 2-0 win, Chicago, USA
7 July 2004: Mexico, 2-2 draw, Chicago, USA
14 July 2007: Mexico, 3-1 loss, Caracas, Venezuela
Overall record against group opponents:
Uruguay has met South Africa twice, with one win and a draw.
Uruguay has met Mexico 17 times for 3 wins, 7 draws and 7 losses.
Uruguay has met France 5 times for 2 wins, 2 draws and 1 loss.
Honours:
14 time winners of the Copa America
World champions on two occasions: 1930 and 1950
Olympic gold medal winners in 1924 and 1928
World Cup record:
Uruguay has the distinction, along with Italy, of being the only nations to win the World cup on their first two attempts (1930 and 1950).
On the other 8 occasions La Celeste has made the World Cup, they had a 4th placing twice (most recent in 1970), three quarter finals or second rounds, and went home early the other three occasions.
Uruguay defeated France 2-1 in the 1966 World Cup, where they also drew with Mexico in the same group.
In 2002, Uruguay drew with France in the group stage, 0-0.
The last time Uruguay managed a win in a World Cup game was a 1-0 win against South Korea in 1990.
Comments: Uruguay’s performance in the World Cup since 1970 (when they have made it) can only be described as abysmal.
One key to guessing at Uruguay’s likely chances of proceeding into the next round is to look at their record in the last three qualifiers, having finished 5th on each occasion, a sure sign that they might lack that little something to get past both Mexico and France next year.
A failure to get the three points against the host nation would consign them to yet another early exit.
France
Current FIFA ranking: 7.
Nick name: Les Bleus (The Blues); L’Equipe tricolore (The Tri-colour Team)
Main kit: Royal blue with white shorts and red socks.
Key players: Steve Mandanda (Marseille), Bacary Sagna (Arsenal), William Gallas (Arsenal), Patrice Evra (Manchester United), Sebastien Squillaci (Sevilla), Eric Abidal (Barcelona), Lassana Diarra (Real Madrid), Sidney Govou (Lyon), Florent Malouda (Chelsea), Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea), Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Thierry Henry (Barcelona), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich)
Route to 2010: France finished second to Serbia in UEFA Group 7, managing to defeat Serbia at home, but dropping a game away to lowly Lithuania.
We all know what happened in the play off against Ireland.
Recent results:
5 September 2009, Romania, 1-1 draw, in Paris, France
9 September 2009, Serbia, 1-1 draw, in Belgrade, Serbia
10 October 2009, Faroe Islands, 5-0 win, in Guingamp, France
14 October 2009, Austria, 3-1 win, in Saint-Denis, France
14 November 2009, Ireland, 1-0 win, in Dublin, Ireland
18 November 2009, Ireland, 1-1 draw, in Saint-Denis, France
Honours:
World champions in 1994 and runners-up in 2006
Confederation Cup winners in 2001 and 2003
European Champions in 1984 and 2000
World Cup record:
France has appeared in 12 previous World Cups, with some great results punctuated by abysmal efforts (the most recent in 2002 where, as reigning champion, it failed to score one goal).
Les Bleus won the World Cup as hosts in 1998, were runners up in 2006 and finished 3rd in 1958 and 1986.
There have also been six round 1 exits.
France famously missed out on an appearance in the final in 1982 when they lost the first ever World Cup penalty shoot out in a semi-final against West Germany. France was leading 3-1 in extra time, when the appearance of inspirational skipper, Rummenigge off the bench sparked a famous revival.
This game is also remembered for the shirt front by German goalkeeper, Schumacher, on Battiston that incredibly resulted in no foul of any description being paid, notwithstanding that Battiston was stretchered off unconscious.
Comments: Many look at France’s poor effort in their last game against Ireland, and assume they are a team incapable of threatening next year.
Don’t believe a word of it!
Look through the French squad, and the names are as big as any you will find in any other squad.
Look at the attacking third, and the names, in their totality, suggest plenty of strength.
However, as the reigning champion in the unfamiliar territory of Asia in 2002, they failed miserably.
The unfamiliar territory of Africa will have a similar effect on some big European teams, make no mistake – does France have the mental toughness to make sure they are not one of them?
Hammer
Guest
"an 8 part series devoted to the Jules Rimet" - that trophy has been held by Brazil in perpetuity since 1970 Mr C - this one's just boringly dubbed the FIFA World Cup Trophy . ...
Pippinu
Roar Guru
Teffers good points
marinator4LYF
Guest
also if new zealand do REALLY REALLY well and the AFC do poorly then maybe Oceania could take our half spot! Its possible but unlikely
Teffers
Guest
If South Africa make it to the next round, would they get another Bafana? Seriously though, I can really see SA being the true dark horse of the comp. Apart from the obvious home team advantage, many people simply don't expect them to achieve anything. In many cases this can be a blessing. Every manager has given the generic "there are no easy teams..." speech, but I cant see Mexico and especially France being scared of them, and this could lead to upsets. Mexico have experienced a mini renaissance since Sven was politely asked to leave. I would be very surprised if they don't make it to the next round. France is an interesting prospect; which team will show up? I believe that France will be an all or nothing team this tournament. They will either make it to the final or be eliminated in the first round. All depends on the first game against Uruguay, if they win they'll be full of confidence and could bolt to the finals, however if they draw or lose; I think the wheels may fall off. I haven't been very impressed with Uruguay, they seem to be content with just being there. They will cause trouble for all three teams but I can't see them advancing. Mexico and South Africa are to advance with France and Uruguay bringing up the rear.
Pippinu
Roar Guru
Mr Cheese Can we ever truly know somone? Can we ever truly know ourselves even? If you follow the link to my Roar page (above the title), you can read about my background, and you will note that my favourite YouTube clib is that Eder goal against the USSR in 1982 (when Brazil came back from 1-0 down). As you know Mr Cheese, from a very young age, one becomes wedded to one's football club - and we might go through life sampling many pleasures - buy you never forget where you come from. Re running and bouncing in aussie rules - you can only run a maximum of 15 metres with the ball, upon which you must either dispose of it legally or bounce/touch it on the ground (Gaelic football has a similar rule, different distances involved, and you can only bounce the once, afterwhich you must do one of those little dinky toe jobs back to yourself while running - which I suspect would be quite difficult). Ask and you will receive - the Laws of Australian Football: http://afl.com.au/Portals/0/afl_docs/Development/umpiring/Laws%20of%20Football_2008.pdf
Pippinu
Roar Guru
AndyRoo good point. If COMCACAF get two of three through, and the AFC get none (effectively out of 5 spots) - it will not bode well for any future discussions about places.
Mr cheese
Guest
Pipster, tell me the score. On this site, si je comprends bien, people belong to one "code" or another. Are you an AFL person ? If so, is it strange that you're writing detailed theses on the subject of football ??? By the way, does anyone here know of a site where I can read the rules of Aussie Rules ? I don't get it and I would like to have a go at understanding. I saw a clip on Youtube: the dude was bouncing the ball like a basketball. That was a surprise. I assumed you just ran with ball in hand as in Rugby.
AndyRoo
Guest
the Nth maerican teams have deifinitely got the better rub of the green group wise. Mexico have South Africa, USA's group is probably the softest but the could still be knocked out. Honduras would be expected to be knocked out but they could have done a lot worse. It's reasonably likely that mexico and USA will both get through. 2 out of 3 looks good when comparing confederations and deciding spots. For Asia Nth korea are stuffed, Sth Korea and Australia it's possible but it will be tough and one of them absolutley has to get through. This is where I worry about Sth koreas mentality a little, they have enough talent to take it Nigeria and greece but they may be too respectful. Japan have a good group too and their team seems to be struggling a little. Before the draw I would have said 2 out of 4 for the AFC into the 16 should be the pass mark (and nudging for 5 full spots). Now i think it's likely only 1 of 4 will get through and possibly none.... if it's none then 4 and a half spots looks too many and the AFC wills truggle to keep them. A shame because head to head matches between the confederation would be more favorable to the AFC I think but that wasn't possible because of how they did the draw. A bit frustrating really.
Pippinu
Roar Guru
tifosi thanks for the comments. Yes - as it's worked out - Group A has a real seeded team in it and is a very balanced group. The key is: despite being the weaker team, South Africa will take points of one or two teams - but which ones??
Pippinu
Roar Guru
Mr Cheese the question is - will I have the staying power to see it though to the end?? ( I was staggered at how much work this first one took!!) :)
Pippinu
Roar Guru
Yes - some exciting new players have either emerged in recent years, or some have matured in the last four ready to play a substantial role. It must be said though - Zizou has not been replaced (not that that was ever possible in a hurry, maybe never).
Pippinu
Roar Guru
dasilva As a long time follower of the World Cup - I know all about the refs!! For a slightly more serious article, sticking to facts and figures, I made a conscious decision to leave out speculation about the refs - but Sth Korea 2002 remains a pretty good guide on what's possible.
tifosi
Guest
pip As usual good work. I thought it was justice France landed in Group A. People can say what they want about the Henry incident but france deserved a seeding. Landing in group A effectively made them one. Interestingly everyone said before the draw that they wanted to be in Sth Africa's group. Looking at it now, I dont think people would be saying that. This is a tough group. Had Australia been in place of mexico, it would still be tough to get out of. One advantage the Group A winner has, they will have a nice run to the quarters.
Mr cheese
Guest
All right, Pip. I shall read your article when I find a few spare hours. It's pretty comprehensive, je pense. I like it, though: an 8 part series devoted to the Jules Rimet.
Luke W
Guest
People forget that France were World Cup finalists in 2006, and you could argue that this squad is even stronger.
dasilva
Guest
I agree about France being a threat to this world cup and that's why I disagree with France losing their seedings due to FIFA politics (Holland, as good as they are, their world cup pedigree is not as good as france in recent times). World Cup history are full of teams who struggled through qualifying and then do well in the World Cup. Brazil in 2002 (as well as germany who reach the final), Argentina 1986 No one should rule out france for this world cup. I'm surprised that you didn't mention referee to be another possible factor whether South Africa reach the next stage. Something tells me that South Africa will make it to the round of 16 after a few controversial decisions.