2010 World Cup Team Preview: South Africa

Leading up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup, I will be doing analysis of each team by group. Today, Group A's South Africa.

HISTORY

South Africa enters as the first-ever African nation to host the FIFA World Cup. As hosts, they qualified automatically. This is their third appearance overall after making it to France in 1998 and Korea/Japan 2002. South Africa was banned from entering qualification from 1966 until 1994 due to the country's apartheid policy.

It missed the last world cup as it needed to be first in its regional group, but placed third. The team, nicknamed the "Bafana Bafana," will attempt to make a strong showing for the soccer-crazed host nation.

RECENT PLAY

Curiously, South Africa played World Cup qualifiers despite already being qualified to the World Cup as the host nation. This was because the World Cup qualifying doubles as qualifying for the African Nations Cup. Even more curiously, South Africa was eliminated from the qualifying. They are, in some way, playing in a World Cup even though they lost in the qualifying stage.

South Africa also played in the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup. They played well, advancing from the group stage before being eliminated by the No. 1 ranked team, Spain, in overtime, 3-2.

KEY PLAYERS

Benni McCarthy, Striker, West Ham United (ENG) : McCarthy is somewhat of a legend in South Africa, as he is the team's all-time top goal-scorer and is second in caps. At age 32, he is still in his prime  However, he has been plagued with attitude issues, even retiring from international play once. An injury could also set him back.

Aaron Mokoena, Defender/DMF, Portsmouth (ENG): Mokoena is an emblematic player at only age 29, captaining the Bafana Bafana recently. He is also the nation's most capped player. A tough tackler, South Africa will rely on his experience to keep games close.

Bernard Parker, Midfielder/Forward, FC Twente (HOL): Parker played as the only forward in ex-manager Joel Santana's scheme. The 24-year-old is a fast player with a strong shot, but he may still struggle with consistency. He is considered a rising star, and may seize the moment this world cup if given the chance.

PLAYING STYLE

Santana used a conservative approach in the 4-4-2 formation with Parker as the deep-lying forward. South Africa has not played many matches with new manager Carlos Alberto Parreira, but perhaps the ex-Brazil manager will attempt to open things up a bit.

Parreira won the world cup with Brazil in 1994 and has a host of World Cup experience. Santana had a spat with McCarthy which may not carry over to Parreira, as the goal-starved Bafana Bafana can definitely use a quality striker.

GROUP MATCHES

South Africa plays Mexico, Uruguay, and France. All three will be tough matches; France is ranked in the top 10, and Mexico and Uruguay are in the top 20 (South Africa is ranked 88th).

It will probably attempt to sneak in as a second seed and play the Group B winner, the favorite being Argentina. Yikes!

EXPECTATIONS

South Africa have a complicated path to advance, to say the least. They have a tough group, as mentioned earlier, and even if they advance, they will likely meet an elite team in the knockout stage. As such, South Africa's expectations are low.

The Bafana Bafana probably will be happy with a good showing against well-established teams like Uruguay, France, and Mexico, even if they don't win. They probably want to at least play the teams close and get a draw or two, similar to their appearance in the Confederations Cup.