Group A traditionally includes the host nation as the seed and in this case it is South Africa that will kick off the 2010 tournament. Joining them will be two time champions Uruguay (1930, 1950) and previous winners France (1998). Mexico makes up this foursome with Group A the only group to contain two previous winning nations.
South Africa ($3 to advance) - easily the worst football nation (worst nation on any metric?) to have hosted the tournament. Luckily they are the host as they would have struggled to qualify for the 2010 addition (let alone be seeded!) had they been forced to. Normally the host nation plays above itself (see South Korea circa 2002) but I think it will take some of that infamous Hansje Cronje magic to see the rainbow nation prove any more than nuisance value here.
Mexico ($2 to advance) - Perennial qualifiers who can usually get to the second round but no further. Finished just behind the US in CONCACAF qualifying but that tends to be one of the weaker federations. The team lacks any recognisable stars to the layman but usually makes up for this with solid contributions right across the park.
Uruguay ($2 to advance) - Oh for the glory days! Two time champions winning in 1930 and 1950 (beating Brazil in the final....in BRAZIL!!! - top effort) but have barely given a yelp since. Have one of the worlds in form strikers in Diego Forlan who has been banging in the goals for Atletico Madrid of late. Famously believed they had a divine right to a World Cup place when playing Australia in back-to-back playoffs. A big tournament from Forlan could seem the return to their glory days.
France ($1.40 to advance) - Les Bleus - the team everyone will be gunning for (and not in a good way) at this years tournament. Cheated their way to South Africa thanks to Thierry Henry's blatant handball (possibly the only decent touch he has ever had in a big game) against Ireland in extra time in their playoff. They have a genuine superstar in the gypsy Franck Ribery (accused of sleeping with an underage prostitute in the lead up - not the best preparation) but without Zidane and with the flaky Henry up front it is hard to see the French repeating their 1998 triumph.
WHAT 2 WATCH 4 - Diego Forlan to bang in the goals for La Celeste.
Suggested 'Investment' - For a very speculative go punters might like to try Diego Forlan for the Golden Boot. He is currently at 70/1 to be top goal scorer.
All prices courtesy of Betfair.
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