Each day between May 10 and the day before the start of the 2010 FIFA World Cup on June 11, FoxSoccer.com analyst Jamie Trecker will preview each of the 32 teams playing in South Africa and tell you everything you need to know about each nation represented at the world's greatest sporting event.
Country: South Africa
Nickname: Bafana Bafana (The Boys)
The hosts of this year's World Cup, the Bafana Bafana are under tremendous pressure. No host has ever failed to get out of the first round. Many feel that poor South Africa may become the first. They are in a brutal group, have a struggling team with few stars, and have been mercilessly criticized by the press. In fact, some people want to see them fail.
How did things get to this point for a team that once epitomized the hopes and dreams of a nation? We don't have the space to fully explain this, but it basically comes down to three things: racism, the bitter legacy of apartheid, and politics.
Soccer in South Africa has historically been a black game, and it was used by the ANC to organize political opposition to the apartheid regime. But, soccer remains a poor cousin to rugby and cricket in the nation, both of which are overwhelmingly supported and followed by whites. The deep resentment among some Western Europeans over South Africa's hosting of the tournament has spilled over to the team.
With sky-high crime rates and serious questions about security at the Cup, there has been a steady drumbeat of opposition to the 2010 tournament. While organizers have bristled at this -- labeling it, and not without some cause, as "afropessimism" -- the fact is that this tournament has had problems from day one, and has had to be heavily subsidized by both the South African government and FIFA. Some South Africans rightly wonder why, when they can't get clean water, security or electricity in the townships, so much money has been spent on stadiums.
The flip side of this is that some white South Africans remain shockingly racist, making the same dire predictions about the Cup that they did about the transition from apartheid to the ANC-controlled government. It's no wonder that many Africans feel protective about the Cup and the running of this tournament, and see the criticism as the latest attempt to undermine the continent by the same old crew.
No pithy lead can sum this up. So, for more on the history of the South African team and what it has meant, we urge you to read “More Than A Game” (Chuck Korr and Marvin Klose, St. Martin’s Press) and “Africa United” (Steve Bloomfield, Harper). For the story behind South Africa's failure to get the rights to host the 2006 World Cup, see “Love And Blood” (Jamie Trecker, Harcourt/Houghton Mifflin).
PAST WORLD CUP SUCCESS: This is only the third finals appearance for the country, but Apartheid-era South Africa were banned by FIFA for nearly three decades. They became eligible, but failed to qualify, in 1994, and went out in the first round in both 1998 and 2002. They did not qualify in 2006, becoming one of just two pending hosts not to make the Cup in the modern era (Mexico was the other, failing to qualify in 1982, though this comes with a caveat: Colombia was originally selected as hosts but stepped aside). They have won just one World Cup game in their history, a 1-0 decision over Slovenia in Daegu, South Korea.
REGIONAL SUCCESS: The crowning achievement was the 1996 African Cup of Nations championship, which arguably did as much to unify post-apartheid South Africa as the Springboks' famous World Cup rugby win had done the year prior. They have also won three COSAFA Cups (a third-tier tournament) since then (2002, 2007, 2008). That said, the Bafana Bafana have gone on a stiff decline since 1996. In a grave humiliation, they failed to qualify for the African Cup of Nations this year and probably would have not qualified for the World Cup, either, but for the fact that hosts gain automatic entry. They did finish fourth in the 2009 Confederations Cup, which they hosted, giving some hope to the fans.
LEAGUE OVERVIEW: South Africa has the richest league on the African continent. Unfortunately, it is widely seen as sub-par. South Africa has done a very poor job of developing talent. It is reflected in the lineups of the clubs in the PSL, a sixteen-team league dominated by four clubs: Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns and Supersport. Most of the best players leave the country at an early age.
MANAGER: Carlos Alberto Parriera. The well-travelled Brazilian should be familiar to American fans from his star-crossed tenure with the MetroStars of MLS. More importantly, he's one of only two men to take five different countries to the World Cup. (Bora Milutinovic is the other.) He won the World Cup with Brazil in 1994 and has coached, at last count, eleven club teams.
KEY PLAYERS: Benni McCarthy (West Ham) is the team's leading scorer and headache. He clashed repeatedly with ex-coach Joel Santana, and is just returning to playing form after suffering an injury in February. Midfielder Steven Pienaar (Everton) has had a bright season and is a key playmaker for the side. Surprise Moriri (Mamelodi) was influential for them in qualification but is beginning to show his limits. Defender and captain Aaron Mokoena (Portsmouth) is the grand old man of the side; he lines up with Matthew Booth (Mamelodi) in the back.
FIFA RANKINGS: 90th. Highest was 16th (1996), lowest was 109th (1993).
FIRST ROUND OPPONENTS: France, Mexico, Uruguay.
HEAD TO HEAD AGAINST FRANCE: South Africa have never beaten France, at any level. In 1998, the World Cup hosts spanked the Bafana Bafana 3-0 in Marseille. A more recent friendly in 2000 saw a 0-0 draw in Johannesburg.
HEAD TO HEAD AGAINST MEXICO: South Africa beat Mexico in 2005 in the first stage of the Gold Cup, 2-1, as an invitee. In two previous friendlies, Mexico beat South Africa 4-2 and 4-0 on U.S. soil.
HEAD TO HEAD AGAINST URUGUAY: Uruguay have never lost to South Africa, beating them 4-3 in a wild 1997 Confederations Cup game, and drawing with them 0-0 at Johannesburg in a 2007 friendly.
HOW THEY QUALIFIED: They didn't. As hosts they are guaranteed an automatic berth.
PERCENTAGE CHANCE TO PROGRESS: 50%. They get a bump from being hosts, and from history. Mexico is arguably the best team in the group as France is in decline and Uruguay is fickle at best. This is not a good South African side, but they should get through, barring disaster.
TO WATCH: This team leaks goals like mad. See if they get two guys to play alongside Booth and Mokoena. Oh, and when you think you hear the crowd screaming “Boooooo” over the buzz of the vuvuzelas, know that they are actually shouting “Boooottth.”
ROSTER
Goalkeepers: Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs), Shu-Aib Walters (Maritzburg United), Rowen Fernandez (Arminia Bielefeld), Moeneeb Josephs (Orlando Pirates)
Defenders: Matthew Booth (Mamelodi Sundowns), Siboniso Gaxa (Mamelodi Sundowns), Innocent Mdledle (Mamelodi Sundowns), Bongani Khumalo (Supersport United), Tsepo Masilela (Maccabi Haifa), Aaron Mokoena (Portsmouth), Bryce Moon (PAOK Thessaloniki), Anele Ngcongca (Racing Genk), Siyabonga Sangweni (Golden Arrows), Lucas Thwala (Orlando Pirates), Bevan Fransman (Maccabi Netanya)
Midfielders: Surprise Moriri (Mamelodi Sundowns), Franklin Cale (Mamelodi Sundowns), Lance Davids (Ajax Cape Town), Kagisho Dikgacoi (Fulham), Andile Jali (Orlando Pirates), Teko Modise (Orlando Pirates), Reneilwe Letsholonyane (Kaizer Chiefs), Siphiwe Tshabalala (Kaizer Chiefs), Thanduyise Khuboni (Golden Arrows), Steven Pienaar (Everton), Macbeth Sibaya (Rubin Kazan)
Forwards: Benni McCarthy (West Ham), Katlego Mphela (Mamelodi Sundowns), Siyabonga Nomvete (Moroka Swallows), Bernard Parker (FC Twente)
TOMORROW'S TEAM: Mexico
