Football: 2010 World Cup Team Profile - South Africa

SOUTH AFRICA

FIFA Ranking: 81



Group: A, with France, Mexico, and Uruguay.

Qualification Route: As hosts, South Africa qualified automatically.

Coach: Carlos Alberto Parreira. The veteran Parreira is back for his second stint as coach of South Africa. He is a regular at the World Cup, having coached Kuwait in 1982; the United Arab Emirates in 1986; Brazil in both 1994 and 2006; and Saudi Arabia in 1998. He won the World Cup with Brazil in 1994.

Recent World Cup History: Not good. South Africa did not qualify for the 2006 tournament, and were eliminated at the end of the first round in both 2002 and 1998.

Key Player: Steven Pienaar (right) is a lively and dangerous winger equally comfortable on the left or right flank. His experience with Everton in the English Premier League will be key to South Africa's hopes.

Goal Scorer: Benni McCarthy is South Africa's all-time leading goal-scorer. Currently an infrequent member of West Ham's starting 11 in the English Premier League, he may have the advantage of being fresh and eager when the World Cup comes around.

Prospects: Despite being one of the lowest ranked countries at the World Cup, and lacking any international football pedigree, there is always a tremendous desire for the host nation to do well at the World Cup. Given the relatively modest opposition in Group A, and strong home support, South Africa should progress. In Round 2, the opposition could be any of Argentina, Nigeria, Greece or South Korea; a place in the Quarter Finals for South Africa is therefore not out of the question, and perhaps even likely.

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