FIFA World Cup South Africa

Heading into this match, Mexico is the better team, hands down. But you can not list them as favorites, because South Africa is the home team, even if it is their first World Cup appearance since 2002, and their third World Cup appearance ever. From a talent perspective, Mexico is overwhelming, but every host team in the World Cup has made it to the second round.

With the 2010 World Cup in South Africa in the not so distant future, teams are trying to qualify at a frantic pace for the first ever World Cup in Africa. As of the first round, 23 of the 32 teams have qualified for the world’s most prestigious soccer event, most notably Brazil, Germany, Italy, Argentina and Spain, who have all qualified for at least nine straight World Cup events. Both Spain and the Netherlands had cake walks to their qualifying process, finishing a combined 19-0-0 to earn their spots. Both teams are serious contenders to win it all in South Africa next year. At +500