Gameday Everyday

Teams:

South Africa

Mexico

Uruguay

France

South Africa- Bafana Bafana (The Boys):

After watching Invictus it is easy to see and understand why this World Cup, in this country, on this continent is so important and remarkably possible. Unfortunately, Bafana Bafana will not come close, to the success the Springboks had in the 1996 Rugby World Cup. But in last years Confederations Cup, a warm-up to this year’s tournament pairing the Champions from each Confederation, South Africa took Spain to the wire and lost by one goal to Brazil. This should be the first time a host nation fails to reach the 2^nd Round. At least they still have Rugby!

Player to watch: Steven Pienaar (Everton Midfielder who will be the face of this team)

Best World Cup Finish: 1998 & 2002 1^st Round

Qualified: As host country

Mexico- El Tri (after the three colours or “tricolor” on the Mexican flag):

The Best Team in the World…so thinks Mexico. This talented team changes coaches as frequent as Heidi Montag has surgery. With Cuauhtémoc Blanco (37 years old) returning to international play, so did Mexico’s World Cup dreams. There is no doubt Mexico produces incredible individual talent, but somewhere the word team or teammate was not translated correctly. Its is vital for head coach Javier Aguirre to keep his young players like Carlos Vela (Arsenal), Giovani Dos Santos (Galatasaray) and Andres Guardado (Deportivo La Coruna) focused if Mexico will have any success.

Player to watch: Cuauhtémoc Blanco (Veracruz and former Chicago Fire Midfielder led his much younger teammates in Qualifying goals)

Best World Cup Finish: 1970 & 1986 Quarterfinals

Qualified: 2^nd in CONCACAF (North America)

Uruguay- La Celeste (The Sky Blue):

Sixty long years since Uruguay hoisted the Cup. Since 1950 they have settled in as a middle of the pack team in South America where Qualifying is questionable at best. This team struggles to find an identity as they could almost be called Argentina Lite. This idea is expressed again with the nickname of Nicolas Lodeiro “the Uruguayan Messi” (Messi 2009 FIFA Player of the Year from Argentina). Uruguay may want to party like it’s 1950, but they will most likely party like it’s 1999.

Player to watch: Diego Forlan (Athletico Madrid Striker and veteran can put himself in the top group of strikers with a solid performance)

World Cup Titles: 1930 & 1950

Qualified: 5^th in CONMEBOL (South America) Defeated Costa Rico in a playoff

France- Les Bleus (The Blues):

Will the real French team please report to the field? A qualification stamped by the controversial handball of French Legend Thierry Henry brings the question. How can a team, with as much talent and skill as any in the world, struggle to qualify, loose one of the greatest players of all-time in Zinedine Zidane, still compete to win a World Cup Title? Enter Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich), Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea), Thierry Henry…and so on. The only match between former World Cup Champions should tell us if the French team we love to watch will be in South Africa. At least Henry has a chance to rewrite his final chapter.

Player to watch: Thierry Henry (Barcelona and Arsenal striker. Henry’s first International match was against South Africa now his final will be in South Africa)

World Cup Titles: 1998

Qualified: 2^nd in UEFA (Europe) Group 7 Defeated Ireland in a playoff

Predicted Finish:

France

Mexico

South Africa

Uruguay

Game to Watch:

South Africa v Mexico June 11^th 10:00am (It is the opening match, enough said)