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By Andrew Warshaw in Cape Town
December 4 – No European team has ever won the World Cup outside of Europe. No host nation has ever failed to get past the first phase.
Could one or both of those records be about to tumble at next summer’s finals in South Africa?
England, the team most coaches here predicted could go far, and European champions Spain will have been highly satisfied following tonight’s glittering draw but it is South Africa’s group that had the locals shaking their heads with anxiety.
Their horror draw consists of games against 2006 runners-up France, twice former winners Uruguay and Mexico all of whom could be too strong for Bafana Bafana.
The draw was made less than an hour after South African president Jacob Zuma boldly predicted to a worldwide television audience that the trophy would be staying in Africa after the July 11 final.
But the audience in Cape Town’s Convention Centre gasped when 1998 winners France were drawn last in Group A.
“It is up to us to prepare as much as possible and be competitive,” said coach Carlos Alberto Parreira, who took charge of South Africa in October for the second time in his career in a bid to revive a team in the doldrums.
“The French play with big clubs but it doesn’t mean we have to be afraid.
“We need to have strength to make it.
“There is no easy group but ours is a big challenge.
“The only way to get out of this group is to prepare really well.”
The tough draw not only threatens early elimination for the South Africans, it also leaves the potential for the tournament to flop if home fans lose interest.
Sepp Blatter, President of football’s governing body FIFA, and local organisers have frequently spoken of their fears of Bafana Bafana being knocked out early.
Indeed South Africa are the lowest-ranked of the 32 finalists at number 86.
Group G surely matches South Africa’s section for Group of Death status.
Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz believes the match against the highly dangerous Ivory Coast could be decisive in sorting out who qualifies – assuming, that is, Brazil goes through untroubled.
Franz Beckenbauer has already gone on record as saying that the current Brazilian vintage is not a patch on many of its predecessors but they are still the side to beat in any competition.
“The group reflects the great and universal dimension of football,” said Quiroz, the former Manchester United number two.
“With Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America represented.
“There are clearly three teams for two places.
“The line-up shows this.
“Portugal starts against the Ivory Coast and in such a close test there is no room for error.
“It may be the key game.
“The first match will be decisive.
“We have a good chance of beating the Ivory Coast, now we have to prepare ourselves well.”
Portugal take on North Korea on June 21 before a mouthwatering tie against Brazil four days later.
Queiroz knows it could all come down to that final clash with the five-time world champions. “
“If that is the case it would be good, but it is too early to think about it.”
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