World Cup 2010... Carlos Vela's Mexico will take part in opening game
Vela ready to get World Cup underway
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The FIFA World Cup 2010 gets underway today and up to five Arsenal players could be involved on the opening day.
Carlos Vela's Mexico take on hosts South Africa in the tournament's curtain raiser before Uruguay take on France in the other Group A fixture.
Arsenal.com will bring you reports on every game featuring one of the 10 Gunners who are participating in the World Cup and we'll provide you with the vital statistics ahead of every match too. Below is everything you need to know about South Africa v Mexico.
Carlos Vela
South Africa v Mexico, Group A
Friday, May 11, 3pm (UK time)
Soccer City Stadium, Johannesburg
Mexico come into the World Cup on the back of success in the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup. El Tricolor have progressed beyond the Group Stage at each of the last four World Cups but haven't reached the Quarter-Finals since 1986.
This is Carlos Vela's first World Cup but the 21-year-old has made 28 international appearances. Victory over South Africa would provide Mexico with their first World Cup win over African opposition.
| South Africa wins - 1 | Draws - 0 | Mexico wins - 2 |
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | Pts |
| 1. | France | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2. | Mexico | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3. | South Africa | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4. | Uruguay | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
TRIVIA TREBLE
- The host nation has never lost in the opening game of a World Cup. The hosts have been involved in seven previous tournament curtain-raisers
- After Friday no team will have played in as many opening games as Mexico. But they have lost three and drawn one of the four they have featured in so far
- South Africa are currently enjoying a 12-match unbeaten run
[Friday, June 11, 2010]
