South Africa (0) 1 / Mexico (0) 1 (Final score)
The Soccer World Cup started today and although the 1st match between SA and Mexico kicked off at 16:00, the Opening Ceremony for the Competition already started at 14:00 SA Time.
We do not usually host Soccer on Rugby-Talk, but we will be making a rare Soccer presense felt here for SELECTED SOCCER WORLD CUP GAMES.
This is the match thread for the match between SA and Mexico. The Opening ceremony and match was broadcast live on SuperSport 3 on DSTV in SA and ALSO on SABC 1 in SA.
South Africa and Mexico drew a tight game by 1 / 1 after South Africa took the lead after 55 minutes through a goal by Siphiwe Tshabala. Mexico equalised at 78 minutes with a goal by Rapael Marquez.
Scores:
Bafana Bafana: Siphiwe Tshabalala (55 min)
Mexico: Rafael Marquez (78 min)
Squads for the South Africa v Mexico opening match:
South Africa
The Bafana starting line-up:
Itumeleng Khune, Siboniso Gaxa, Aaron Mokoena (captain), Bongani Khumalo, Lucas Thwala, Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Kagisho Dikgacoi, Teko Modise, Steven Pienaar, Siphiwe Tshabalala, and Katlego Mphela.
Complete Squad:
Goalkeepers: Moeneeb Josephs (Orlando Pirates), Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs), Shuaib Walters (Maritzburg Utd)
Defenders: Matthew Booth and Siboniso Gaxa (Mamelodi Sundowns), Bongani Khumalo (SuperSport Utd), Tsepo Masilela (Maccabi Haifa/ISR), Aaron Mokoena (Portsmouth/ENG, capt), Anele Ngcongca (Racing Genk/BEL), Siyabonga Sangweni (Lamontville Golden Arrows), Lucas Thwala (Pirates)
Midfielders: Reneilwe Letsholonyane and Siphiwe Tshabalala (Chiefs), Lance Davids (Ajax Cape Town), Kagisho Dikgacoi (Fulham/ENG), Thanduyise Khuboni (Arrows), Teko Modise (Pirates), Surprise Moriri (Sundowns), Steven Pienaar (Everton/ENG), Macbeth Sibaya (Rubin Kazan/RUS)
Strikers: Katlego Mphela (Sundowns), Siyabonga Nomvete (Moroka Swallows), Bernard Parker (Twente/NED)
Mexico
Goalkeepers: Memo Ochoa (America), Luis Ernesto Michel (Chivas/USA), Oscar Perez (Chiapas)
Defenders: Rafael Marquez (Barcelona/ESP), Ricardo Osorio (Stuttgart/GER), Hector Moreno (AZ Alkmmar/NED), Francisco Rodriguez (PSV Eindhoven/NED), Carlos Salcido (PSV Eindhoven/NED), Paul Aguilar (Pachuca), Efrain Juarez (Pumas UNAM)
Midfielders: Jonny Magallon (Guadalajara), Jorge Torres Nilo (Atlas), Gerardo Torrado (Cruz Azul), Israel Castro (Pumas UNAM), Andres Guardado (Deportivo La Coruna/ESP)
Strikers: Pablo Barrera (Pumas UNAM), Adolfo Bautista (Guadalajara), Alberto Medina (Guadalajara), Cuauhtemoc Blanco (Veracruz), Javier Hernandez (Guadalajara), Giovani dos Santos (Galatasaray/TUR), Guillermo Franco (West Ham/ENG), Carlos Vela (Arsenal/ENG)
Eishhhhhhhhh
5 min left
2 min left
Flok, with a minute left SA hit the post… that should have been taken….
Only optional time left…
Game over
1 / 1
Well, a draw is better than a loss.
Flippet dit was darem amper what a game
Right well done Bafana a draw means a lot in soccer.
GBS die restart het gewerk
well done befana en bad luck daai grease monkeys was bleddy lucky
chat later weer
Well, this means we have to win at least one of the matches against France or Uruguay
The second match of the 2010 FIFA World Cup pits together two former world champions: Uruguay, the winners in 1930 and 1950; and France, who triumphed 1998. With hosts South Africa and Mexico making up what promises to be a tight Group A, the three points up for grabs in Cape Town on Friday could prove crucial. The last meeting between the two was a 0-0 draw in the group phase at Korea/Japan 2002, a result that contributed to the early elimination of both sides.
The match
Uruguay-France, Group A, Cape Town (Green Point Stadium), Friday 11 June, 20.30 (local time)
Despite their rich footballing traditions, both teams struggled en route to the world finals, only clinching their places in the play-offs. While La Celeste were squeezing past Costa Rica, Les Blues were being pushed all the way by Republic of Ireland, a nerve-racking end to a campaign that raised doubts about their ability to contest for honours at South Africa 2010.
The Uruguayans have looked the more convincing of the two in the build-up to the finals, beating Switzerland and Israel as part of their preparations. France, meanwhile, were brushed aside by Spain in March and lost 1-0 to China only last week.
In a bid to turn his side’s worrying form around, coach Raymond Domenech has introduced a new 4-3-3 formation, with Jeremy Toulalan operating in a lone holding role and Florent Malouda and Yoann Gourcuff supplying the bullets for the front men. Charrúa boss Oscar Tabarez will be sticking to his tried-and-trusted 3-5-2 line-up, with the midfield tandem of Ignacio Gonzalez and Alvaro Pereira supporting the fearsome strike partnership of Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez.
Players to watch
Diego Forlan vs William Gallas
Never lacking in grit and determination, Uruguay have plenty of attacking firepower to call on in South Africa. As usual, Forlan will be the spearhead. Having enjoyed a productive end to the league season with Atletico Madrid, he should not be lacking in confidence. His duel with Gallas will go some way to deciding the outcome of the match, although the Arsenal central defender has plenty of questions to answer after a frustrating injury-affected season. A solid performance against the ever-dangerous Forlan should help restore his confidence.
The stat
16 – Uruguay have won just one of their last 16 matches at the FIFA World Cup finals, a 1-0 defeat of Korea Republic at Italy 1990. Their last victory prior to that came 20 years earlier at Mexico 1970, when they won twice on the way to finishing fourth.
What they said
“Against Uruguay we’ll see whether we’re solid or not. Anything could happen to be honest. Uruguay do a lot of pressing when they’re not in possession, but if we can find a way round that by passing the ball then I’m sure we’ll see an improvement on our performances in the warm-up games,” Jeremy Toulalan, France midfielder.
“I’ve more or less decided on the formation we’ll be using. The tactics will depend on how the game unfolds because the only thing we’ll know for sure before the game is France’s line-up. But no matter how they play, the players we put out there will be able to adapt,” Oscar Tabarez, Uruguay coach.
Voice of the fans
“4-3-3 is a sound tactic when you have experienced players but it can be a bit of a risk if the coach has only just started to use it. The players will have to work really hard because there won’t be any space in the midfield. At the same time, to create chances you have to attack down the wings. France have been playing 4-5-1 for years and they’ll have to prove that they know how to use this system,” FIFA.com user PlayaDeNoche.
The question
France failed to score in their opening games at Korea/Japan 2002 and Germany 2006. Will they find the back of the net on Friday?
Well done boys,pity that kick hit the pole in the 89 th minute 🙂
South Africa (RSA) Statistics Mexico (MEX)
9 Shots 14
5 Shots on goal 5
1 Goals Scored 1
17 Fouls Committed 13
11 Fouls Suffered 17
4 Corner kicks 5
12 Free kicks Shots (scored) 20
0 / 0 Penalty Kicks (Goals/Shots) 0 / 0
3 Offsides 6
0 Own goals 0
2 Yellow cards 2
0 Second yellow card and red card 0
0 Red Cards 0
29 Actual playing time 40
42% Possession (%) 58%
Well done BAFANA. Pity that last shot at goal hit the posts. Real pity that. We would have been the onlyc country so far to have won. Still very proud of our team. We head it and for now that is great. Also pleased the other two teams in our pool had a 0/0 draw.
SO GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO BAFANAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA.
Jeepers the vibe on Durban’s beach front was totally AWESOME REALLY, REALLY BRILLIANT. We do know how to party……..hehehehehehehehehehe. I too can blow the vuvuzela now………..hahahahahaha. Bought one yesterday.
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