2010 FIFA World Cup Preview: South Africa
South Africa is the first ever African nation to host the FIFA World Cup.
That’s probably why they are one of the sentimental favorites to win the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
As hosts, they qualified automatically marking their 3rd appearance overall after making it to France in 1998 and then again in 2002 after being banned from entering qualification from 1966 until 1994.
Despite the automatic qualification, South Africa played World Cup qualifiers mainly because World Cup qualifiers also serve as qualifying for the African Nations Cup.
Unfortunately, South Africa was eliminated 
from the qualifying. They are, in some way, playing in a World Cup even though they lost in the qualifying stage.
South Africa also played in the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup. They played well, advancing from the group stage before being eliminated by the No.1 ranked team, Spain, in overtime, 3-2.
South Africa plays Mexico, Uruguay, and France. All three will be tough matches. France is ranked in the top 10, while Mexico and Uruguay are in the top 20. South Africa is ranked 88th.
It has been a turbulent few years for South Africa, but a creditable performance at the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup, the prelude to this summer, has set expectations high going into their Group A matches.
Their semi-final loss to Brazil followed by a succeeding…
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