South Africa Expects Tough Clash With Mexico

South Africa assistant coach Pitso Mosimane has given an insight into the type of football Bafana can expect from Mexico today, the opening match of the FIFA 2010 World Cup.

The former SuperSport United head coach was speaking after Bafana beat Denmark 1-0 at the Lucas ‘Masterpieces’ Moripe Stadium last weekend  and he warned South Africans to expect a tough outing against El Tri.

Bafana coach Carlos Alberto Parreira revealed recently that they have been sending ‘spies’ to watch Bafana’s group A opponents; Mexico, Uruguay and France. Mosimane admits from what he has seen himself of Mexico, Bafana’s 12-match unbeaten run will hang by a thread in the opening game.

“It will be a big tough game. You know how they play; they are more complex than what you saw against Denmark. They play 3-4-3 and switch to 3-5-2. They are very difficult to contain under those circumstances. They are so comfortable on the ball it is not funny! Their system is so confusing to their opponents that a 3-5-2 formation ends with six players in your own half when they are attacking. They are brave and they are risk-takers,” said ‘Jingles’.

“They are not afraid to throw men forward and that makes them dangerous, but for me the Denmark game was an ice breaker for us,” continued the 45-year-old.