Mexico dent South Africa World Cup dream start

Host nation South Africa got their continent’s first World Cup off to a thrilling start by scoring the tournament’s opening goal in a spirited 1-1 draw with Mexico on Friday.

Siphiwe Tshabalala’s stunning 55th-minute strike had most of the 85,000 fans in Johannesburg’s Soccer City stadium – and an entire country – on their feet.

Mexican veteran Rafael Marquez equalised in the 79th minute, but only a post denied South Africa a famous late victory when striker Katlego Mphela was denied by the woodwork.

South Africa’s Brazilian coach Carlos Alberto Parreira praised his side – ranked 83rd in the world – for holding their nerve in a match many had expected them to lose.

“As the game progressed, the players became more relaxed and I think the players have broken the ice in terms of playing in a competition like this,” said the Brazilian.

“Most of our team are a home-based team, players who are not used to this big environment, and we tried hard to adapt to this ambience, but after 15 minutes we started playing our game, putting the ball on the ground.

“The draw keeps us alive in the competition.”

Mexico’s coach Javier Aguirre said his team had failed to capitalise on their early domination.

“I think we had a very good first half, but we weren’t capable of really putting away our chances,” said Aguirre.

“Both teams are going away with a bitter-sweet taste and now we are forced to beat France in our next game.”

France, the 1998 winners and beaten finalists four years ago in Germany, took on Uruguay in Cape Town in the second Group A match of the day, kicking off at 1830 GMT.

Coach Raymond Domenech left striker Thierry Henry – the only survivor from the 1998-winning squad – on the bench, starting with Nicolas Anelka and Sidney Govou up front with Franck Ribery supplying the service from midfield.

In Johannesburg, the curtain-raiser was preceded by an entertaining opening ceremony infused with the colours and sounds of Africa.

Hundreds of dancers filled Soccer City stadium and the air hummed with the sound of thousands of vuvuzelas which are set to be a constant feature of the tournament.

One heartbroken absentee from the party was Nelson Mandela, who decided he could not join the festivities following the death of his great granddaughter in a car crash as she was returning from a pre-tournament concert.

The tragedy threw a shadow over an event which is about far more than just football.

South Africa’s pride in making history as the first African hosts has shone through as the Rainbow Nation rides a wave of euphoria not seen since the collapse of apartheid and Mandela’s subsequent election.

Friday’s action starts a 64-match bonanza, which will culminate back at Soccer City with the final on July 11.

On Saturday, the fabulously talented Lionel Messi and his Argentine teammates coached by the unpredictable Diego Maradona take on Nigeria, and Wayne Rooney leads England in search of their first world crown since 1966.

England’s Italian coach Fabio Capello is confident Rooney will prove against the United States in Rustenburg that he can be one of the tournament’s leading players – providing he keeps his famously short temper under control.

II hope it will be the same Rooney in the World Cup. I spoke with him. He is a fantastic player because he wants to win and the hunger in him is really, really strong,” Capello said.

“But in this World Cup we have to be careful and respect the referees.”

European champions Spain, bidding to lift the World Cup for the first time in their history, became the last of the 32 teams to arrive in South Africa, touching down in Johannesburg on Friday.

Bookmakers have installed the gifted Spanish team including Fernando Torres, Andres Iniesta and Xavi as the favourites, but Spain have crumbled so often at this level that many observers believe Brazil could add a sixth title to their record haul.

Kaka and his Brazilian teammates open their challenge against surprise qualifers North Korea on Tuesday, while Spain take to the pitch for the first time on Wednesday against Switzerland.