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December 9 - The South African soccer team was ready to face any of its
opponents in the fight leading up to the World Cup finals, said South
Africa coach, Carlos Alberto Parreira.
The coach said that Friday's draw had not changed anything for the team and
that the host nation was not afraid of those sharing Group A.
South Africa has been pitted against France, Uruguay and Mexico.
"We are going to play the ball on the ground," said Parreira, who took over
from Joel Santana very recently after the latter left after only 17 months. "We
are going to prepare ourselves, we are not afraid."
"Mexico are a good side, France have got players in the Champion League and
they are a good side," he said.
The pressure is on for South Africa to at least make it past the first round.
Failure to do this will mean that it becomes the first host nation not to reach
the second round in the 79 year history of the World Cup.
Parreira was philosophical about Friday's draw and said: "This is the hand we
have been dealt and what we will have to face. We have to prepare ourselves in a
positive way to make sure we go past the first round. I do not look at the first
game. If we get a good result against Mexico and lose against Uruguay and
France, it will not matter."
Parreira said that the team would have to look at the group as a whole and
not focus on the first game.
"The bottom line is that we face three difficult games and face them in a
positive way," he said.
Odds on Group A have currently been posted as follows:
France - 16-1
Uruguay - 66-1
Mexico - 80-1
South Africa - 80-1
Read our 2010 World Cup betting guide.
Discover more info on World Cup soccer gambling.
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