Coach: Carlos Pereira
World Ranking: 88
Key Player: Steven Pienaar
World Cup Record: Round one (1998, 2002)
Group A Schedule:
11 June – South Africa v Mexico
16 June – South Africa v Uruguay
22 June – France v South Africa
There is always a pressure on the host nation to perform well in the World Cup - an expectancy that can be overpowering. Remember Spain’s capitulation of sorts in 1982. While South Africa will never be measured in equal terms to their European counterparts, there is a view that they can raise their game on home soil.
On the basis of what they achieved in last summer’s Confederations Cup, where they lost narrowly to Brazil in the semi-final, such optimism may very well be realised. Bafana Bafana try to play attractive football, and in Steven Pienaar they have a talented midfield general.
The Everton player was outstanding in the Confederations Cup, bringing much needed imagination and flair, but he will need others to step up in the heat of a World Cup, in which Group A has an ultra competitive look. To that end, one should keep an eye out for Fulham’s Kagisho Dikgacoi and the wingback duo of Siboniso Gaxa and Tsepho Masilela.
South Africa's all-time leading goalscorer Benni McCarthy has been left out of the squad. The West Ham striker McCarthy has struggled for fitness in recent months and has been criticised for being overweight.
Coach Carlos Pereira is back in charge for a second term, though many in South Africa have not forgotten his failure to lead his charges beyond the first round of the 2008 African Cup of Nations.
To that end, his appointment last year was controversial, notwithstanding the experience he brings as a former World Cup winning manager (Brazil 1994). Beyond South Africa, there is a view that Pereira will have difficulty in molding together a somewhat disjointed unit.
What impact the home support will have in inspiring the host nation remains to be seen. The opening match against Mexico will tell us much.
Final Squad:
Goalkeepers: Itumeleng Khune, Moeneeb Josephs, Shu-Aib Walters.
Defenders: Siboniso Gaxa, Matthew Booth, Lucas Thwala, Aaron Mokoena (captain), Bongani Khumalo, Siyabonga Sangweni, Tsepo Masilela and Anele Ngcongca.
Midfielders: Lance Davids, Steven Pienaar, Teko Modise, Siphiwe Tshabalala, Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Thanduyise Khuboni, Kagisho Dikgaco, Macbeth Sibaya and Surprise Moriri.
Strikers: Katlego Mphela, Bernard Parker and Siyabonga Nomvete.
