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Group A

This group consists of hosts South Africa; 1998 FIFA World Cup champions France; two-time former champions Uruguay; and CONCACAF representatives Mexico. The opening match of the group – and of the tournament – will see South Africa take on Mexico.

Group Breakdown

France

Head coach: Raymond Domenech

Captain: Thierry Henry

Most capped player/player with most international appearances: Lilian Thuram (142 caps).

All-time top scorer: Thierry Henry (51 goals)

Previous World Cup appearances: 12

Best World Cup result: Winners in 1998 (defeated Brazil 3-0 on home soil)

2006 World Cup result: Runners-up (losing to Italy 5-4 on penalties after regular and extra time ended in a 1-1 draw).

France boasts a star-studded squad, featuring some of the world’s most talented players: Bayern Munich’s versatile winger Franck Ribery; Bordeaux playmaker Yoann Gourcuff; Marseille winger Hatem Ben Arfa; Manchester United’s dynamic left back Patrice Evra; Barcelona defender Eric Abidal; Arsenal right back Bacary Sagna; and in-form young goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. These prime performers stand alongside veteran stars such as all-time national team top-scorer Thierry Henry and Chelsea pair Nicolas Anelka and Florent Malouda.

Les Bleus, however, have struggled tremendously since reaching the 2006 World Cup final in Germany. Despite their potential and strength in depth – on paper at least – France have been lacking a leader on the pitch and in the dressing room ever since the retirement of talismanic captain and playmaker Zinedine Zidane. France’s lack of a tactically adept coach (Raymond Domenech is not one of the most hated public figures in France for nothing), their lack of harmony, and the dip in form of key players, have been glaringly apparent in both their lacklustre showing in Euro 2008 and their subpar performances in the World Cup qualifying campaign. Somehow, they managed to sneak their way into South Africa via Henry’s infamous handball which quite literally handed them a 2-1 aggregate win over the Republic of Ireland in the playoff. To add insult to injury, some of the France members to take part in the World Cup – including Sidney Govou, Ben Arfa and Ribery – have been reportedly involved in an off-pitch scandal. Having said all of that, though, big teams that struggled to qualify for the World Cup have traditionally stepped it up once they have overcome the early scares. This is why I will not be shocked if France end up winning the whole thing.

South Africa

Head coach: Carlos Alberto Parreira

Captain: Aaron Mokoena

Most capped player: Aaron Mokoena (99 caps)

All-time top scorer: Benni McCarthy (35 goals)

Previous appearances: 2

Best World Cup result: Group stage (1998, where they finished third behind France and Denmark, and 2002, finishing third behind Spain and Paraguay, barely missing out on a last-16 berth on goal differential).

2006 World Cup result: did not qualify.

As the host nation, South Africa qualified automatically for the World Cup and did not have to go through a daunting qualifying campaign. The ‘Bafana Bafana’ will be under pressure to avoid becoming the first host nation to bow out in the group stage. Appointed for a second stint as South Africa coach after the sacking of compatriot Joel Santana at the end of last year, Carlos Alberto Parreira will be taking part in his sixth World Cup as a coach. His most notable achievement was leading Brazil to triumph in the 1994 World Cup, Brazil’s first World Cup title in 24 years.

On paper, South Africa is the weakest team in Group A, and although they had an encouraging showing in last year’s Confederations Cup, giving both Brazil and Spain a run for their money, their recent form has not exactly inspired optimism. If they are to mount a serious challenge to qualify for the second round, they will need their two best players – Everton’s skilful midfielder Steven Pienaar and Blackburn Rovers striker and Bafana Bafana all-time top scorer Benni McCarthy – to perform at the heights of their powers. Yet, even that might not be enough to propel them past the group stage for the first time ever.

Uruguay

Coach: Oscar Tabárez

Captain: Diego Lugano

Most capped player: Rodolfo Rodríguez (79 caps)

All-time top scorer: Héctor Scarone (31 goals)

Previous World Cup appearances: 10

Best World Cup result: Winners in 1930 (beating Argentina 4-2 on home ground) and in 1950 (stunning hosts Brazil 2-1 and silencing a packed Maracana)

2006 World Cup result: did not qualify

Despite being the second smallest country in the Americas (the nation has a population of about 3.5 million), Uruguay possess a proud footballing tradition at international as well as at continental level. They have picked up two Olympic Gold medals (in the 1924 Paris Games and the 1928 Amsterdam Games), won two of the first four World Cups and managed a record-tying 14 Copa América titles. Since reaching the semifinals of the 1970 World Cup, however, Uruguay has significantly slipped off the international radar. Worse still, they are no longer regarded as South America’s third big force behind Brazil and Argentina with the emergence of Chile and Paraguay in recent times. ‘La Celeste’ supporters blame the star players for lack of commitment to the national team. Uruguay have serious firepower up front – Diego Forlán has been one of the most prolific goal scorers in the Spanish League for the last few years, and Luis Suárez is equally as impressive at Ajax Amsterdam – but the defence is questionable. I do believe that Tabárez, nicknamed El Maestro in his native Uruguay, will get his underachieving team going at last.

Mexico

Coach: Javier Aguirre

Captain: Rafael Márquez

Most capped player: Claudio Suárez (178 caps)

All-time top scorer: Jared Borgetti (46 goals)

Previous World Cup appearances: 13

Best World Cup Results: quarterfinals in 1970 (as hosts, lost to eventual finalists Italy 4-1 despite taking an early lead) and in 1986 (beaten by eventual finalists West Germany on penalties after a goalless draw)

2006 World Cup result: round of 16 (lost 2-1 to Argentina in extra time)

When Javier Aguirre replaced Sven-Goran Eriksson early last year, Mexico were in danger of failing to reach the World Cup for the first time since 1990. Defeats to the USA, El Salvador, and Honduras spelled the end of Eriksson’s brief and unsuccessful tenure. Aguirre helped get Mexico’s qualifying campaign back on track, and thanks to a six-match unbeaten streak, they finished the qualifying campaign in second place behind the USA to comfortably make their fifth consecutive World Cup.

Mexico has an impressive array of talent in the attacking midfield and up front, led by Deportivo’s technically gifted left-footed midfielder Andrés Guardado; Manchester United signing and promising striker Javier Hernández; Arsenal striker/winger Carlos Vela; and the hugely experienced and popular midfielder Cuahtémoc (yes, it took a minute to type his name!) Blanco. Mexico’s defence can be iffy: Captain Rafa Márquez has struggled with his form over the last two years, forcing him to drop out of the Barcelona first eleven. But with a top-class coach and a coherent team, Mexico should make it through to the second round.

Prediction: Mexico and Uruguay to qualify for the round of 16.
Budour Hassan
DFN Sports World Cup contributing writer