France: {9}
Uruguay: {16}
Mexico: {17}
South Africa: {83}
France - 23 Man Squad:
Goalkeeper(s): Cedric Carrasso (Bordeaux), Hugo Lloris (Lyon), Steve Mandanda (Marseille)
Defender(s): Eric Abidal (Barcelona), Gael Clichy (Arsenal), Patrice Evra (Manchester United), William Gallas (Arsenal), Marc Planus (Bordeaux), Anthony Reveillere (Lyon), Bacary Sagna (Arsenal), Sebastien Squillaci (Sevilla FC)
Midfielder(s): Abou Diaby (Arsenal), Alou Diarra (Bordeaux), Yoann Gourcuff (Bordeaux), Florent Malouda (Chelsea), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich), Jeremy Toulalan (Lyon), Mathieu Valbuena (Marseille)
Forward(s): Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea), Djibril Cisse, Andre-Pierre Gignac (Toulouse), Sidney Govou (Lyon), Thierry Henry (Barcelona)
Mexico - 23 Man Squad:
Goalkeeper(s): Luis Michel, Guillermo Ochoa, Oscar Perez
Defender(s): Paul Aguilar, Efrain Juarez, Jonny Magallon, Rafael Marquez (Barcelona), Hector Moreno (AZ Alkmaar), Ricardo Osorio (VfB Stuttgart), Francisco Rodriguez (PSV Eindhoven / Atletico Junior), Carlos Salcido (PSV Eindhoven), Jorge Torres Nilo (Atlas)
Midfielder(s): Pablo Barrera, Israel Castro, Giovani Dos Santos, Andres Guardado (Deportivo La Coruna), Alberto Medina, Gerardo Torrado
Forward(s): Adolfo Bautista, Cuauhtemoc Blanco, Guillermo Franco (West Ham United), Javier Hernandez, Carlos Vela (Arsenal)
South Africa - 23 Man Squad:
Goalkeeper(s): Moneeb Josephs, Itumeleng Khune, Shu-Aib Walters
Defender(s): Matthew Booth, Siboniso Gaxa, Bongani Khumalo, Tsepo Masilela (Maccabi Haifa), Aaron Mokoena (Portsmouth), Anele Ngongca, Siyabonga Sangweni, Lucas Thwala
Midfielder(s): Lance Davids, Kagisho Dikgacoi (Fulham), Thanduyise Khuboni, Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Teko Modise, Surprise Moriri, Steven Pienaar (Everton), MacBeth Sibaya (FK Rubin Kazan), Siphiwe Tshabalala
Forward(s): Katlego Mphela, Siyabonga Nomvete, Bernard Parker (Twente Enschede)
Uruguay - 23 Man Squad:
Goalkeeper(s): Juan Castillo, Fernando Muslera (Lazio), Martin Silva
Defender(s): Martin Caceres (Barcelona), Jorge Fucile (FC Porto), Diego Godin (Villarreal), Diego Lugano, Andres Scotti, Mauricio Victorino
Midfielder(s): Egidio Arevalo Rios (San Luis / Penarol), Sebastian Eguren, Alvaro Fernandez (Nacional / Universidad de Chile), Walter Gargano (Napoli), Ignacio Gonzalez (Newcastle United), Nicolas Lodeiro (Ajax Amsterdam / Nacional), Alvaro Pereira (Argentinos Juniors / FC Porto), Maximiliano Pereira (Benfica), Diego Perez (AS Monaco)
Forward(s): Sebastian Abreu, Edison Cavani (Palermo), Sebastian Fernandez, Diego Forlan (Atletico Madrid), Luis Suarez (Ajax Amsterdam)
Preview:
While every host nation has always qualified for the round of 16, the buzz going around is that South Africa will be the first host nation not to qualify for the round of 16 in the history of the World Cup. Despite playing horrid international friendlies, France is still probably the team to beat in this group. They have a lot of individual talent, who played very well for their clubs and will probably have their chemistry figured out by the time the World Cup starts on June 11th. Uruguay can also be a threat to advance into the round of 16, especially with a star player like Diego Forlan (Atletico Madrid). Mexico despite being a very young inexperienced team is still a very good squad and even though it was just a friendly, anytime you can beat Italy you will gain lots of confidence. Les Bleus on the other hand, despite all their talent has struggled through their friendlies including an embarrassing loss to China, whom we can assume France scheduled as a morale booster that went terribly wrong.
Group A - Game(s) to watch
[June 11th] - Mexico vs South Africa - The first game of the World Cup should always be a game to watch!
[June 17th] - France vs Mexico - This game can should go a long way to decided who finishes 1st and who finishes 2nd in Group A.
Suggested Lean:
Team to finish 1st and 2nd in Group A. In correct order to qualify to round of 16: {Bookmaker}
1st France - 2nd Mexico [+350]
Where The Bookies Don't Stand A Chance!
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