We’ll be covering the game live, which kicks off at 10 am EST from Soccer City stadium in Joha...

We’ll be covering the game live, which kicks off at 10 am EST from Soccer City stadium in Joha...

A Football Report
We’ll be covering the game live, which kicks off at 10 am EST from Soccer City stadium in Joha...

Live Coverage of the first game of the 2010 World Cup: South Africa v. Mexico! Soccer City, Johannesburg, South Africa. 3 pm GMT (10 am EST). Covered by Eric Beard, Jordan Beard, and Oliver Sparrow

It’s finally here. After four long years where we were able to bask in the infamy of Zinedine Zidane’s headbutt, South Africa, as the host nation, is starting off the 2010 World Cup in scintillating form. Unfortunately for Nelson Mandela’s men, so is Mexico. South Africa have not lost in 12 games, however, Mexico are just coming off a victory against 2006 World Cup champions Italy. South Africa, or the Bafana Bafana, will be led by Brazilian coach Carlos Alberto Parreira, who coached Brazil in the 2006 World Cup. Mexico, on the other hand, will be led by former Mexican international Javier Aguirre, or “El Vasco”, who has experience coaching in Spain’s elite La Liga with Atlético Madrid.

We’ll be covering the game live, which kicks off at 10 am EST from Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg. But before the Nelson Mandela gets both teams ready with his pre-tournament speech, here are a few things you should know about both teams.

Key Players

Mexico

May 24, 2010 - London, United Kingdom - epa02171247 Mexico's Giovani Dos Santos (C) battles with England's Leighton Baines (L) and Ledley King (R) in tonights International friendly at Wembley Stadium, London, Britain, 24 May 2010.

There are three attacking players to keep an eye on while watching “El Tri”. Two are Giovani Dos Santos and Carlos Vela, promising youngsters who are playing for Galatasaray in Turkey and Arsenal in England, respectively. Dos Santos, a wide midfielder, is as quick as they come, while Vela, a forward, is gifted with the unteachable knack for goal. Vela simply knows how to score goals, and he is probably the most likely to score against South Africa. The other player to watch is 37-year-old Cuautémoc Blanco, an attacking midfielder/forward, will be returning for his third World Cup (1998, 2002, 2010) after a controversial absence in 2006. Blanco has been in tremendous form with Veracruz in Mexico, and is certain to be a handful.

South Africa Jun. 10, 2010 - Johannesburg, South Africa - epa02195041 South Africa's Steven Pienaar in action during a training session of the South African national team at the Soccer City stadium outside Johannesburg, South Africa, 10 June 2010. South Africa will play the World Cup opening match against Mexico at the Soccer City on 11 June. One man stands alone for South Africa, and that is Steven Pienaar. Pienaar has established himself as a top player in the English Premiership with Everton FC, and will be key if the Bafana Bafana hope to get on the scoreboard. Bernard Parker is one to watch as well; he’s a pacy striker who plays for Dutch champions FC Twente. Also expect defender Matthew Booth to stand his ground against the Mexicans, as the white South African has become a fan favourite.