Match PreviewPreview: Mexico vs South Africa
Mexico open their home World Cup at the Estadio Azteca against a young South Africa side returning to the finals for the first time since 2010.
Mexico open their home World Cup at the Estadio Azteca, the ground that staged the 1970 and 1986 finals and now becomes the first stadium to host three tournaments. The hosts carry a nation's expectation, and history says the group is the easy part: Mexico have reached the last 16 at seven straight World Cups, then stalled there every time. A kind opener helps that cause.
South Africa are back at the World Cup for the first time since they hosted it in 2010. Hugo Broos has built a young Bafana Bafana side that came through African qualifying on energy and organisation rather than star power, pressing high and breaking at pace. They will fancy an upset if the hosts start nervously in front of 80,000 expectant fans.
The contest is simple enough: Mexico's quality and crowd against South Africa's discipline and counter-attack. An early goal would settle home nerves; concede first and the Azteca could turn tense. Kick-off is 22:00 in Kenya time, prime time for the tournament's opening match. Back your team and make your score call on the match page.
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