Forlan vows to find the net against Bafana Bafana.

Uruguay striker Diego Forlan was disappointed not to have scored against France in a 0-0 draw at Cape Town Stadium on Friday night.The Atlético Madrid ace saw his chances limited, but looked sharp in front of goal.With South Africa and Mexico also drawing their first match in the earlier game, it leaves Group A wide open.

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Uruguay tackle Bafana in their next match, with victory crucial for both sides.Forlan admitted his team-mates will now regroup ahead of that tie.He told Football365.co.za: "We have finish this game and now we have to rest and train and then see how we are going to be for the next match."He then added to the media: "Four teams are in the same position now so we have to see what is going to happen in the second game."When asked how he felt about drawing with the former world champions, Forlan admitted that while his side "had the better chances", "it was a good result for each other" but "nobody deserved to win".

Forlan also revealed that while he was happy with his overall performance, he would have preferred to have found the target. A snapshot late in the game was probably his best chance, but he was unable to direct the ball goalwards."I knew it was off target the first moment I shot, I knew it was out. I had the chances and I would have been more happy if they were in."The former Manchester United frontman said he had watched bits of South Africa's draw with Mexico and while he admitted, "it was a tough game", he isn't fazed about facing the hosts.

"Yeah we saw the game and it was a tough game."It's the way we were drawn and we have to play against them, we don't have to think about it."

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Tshabalala super strike fails earn South Africa opening win.

Diminutive midfielder Siphiwe Tshabalala sent the whole of South Africa in to raptures with the opening goal of the World Cup in Johannesburg but it was not enough to hold off Mexico at the final whistle.

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His wonderful strike in the 55th minute of an entertaining opening match put Bafana Bafana ahead with a goal that looked likely to give them an emotional victory - a win which could ignite not only their own campaign but the whole World Cup.

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Mexico are rampant against a weak Gambia

Manchester United-bound striker Javier Hernandez and Adolfo Bautista each netted twice as Mexico completed their FIFA World Cup™ preparations with a hansome win over Gambia in Bayreuth, Germany.

Having lost successive friendlies to England and the Netherlands, Mexico needed a morale-boosting result and delivered in emphatic fashion.

Gambia kept the deficit to 1-0 at half-time, Hernandez's 18th-minute opener the only goal, but there was a rush of activity in the second period.

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Ebrima Bohna made it 3-1 after Hernandez's second and Bautista's first had swelled Mexico's advantage.

Alberton Medina wrapped things up nine minutes from time, shortly after Bautista completed his brace.

Van Persie back for Holland with brace against Mexico

Robin van Persie was left enthused with his two-goal return for Holland in a 2-1 friendly win against Mexico in Germany last night, although it was later revealed he suffered tightness in his hamstrings. The 26-year-old Arsenal striker had not played for Holland since rupturing ankle ligaments in a friendly against Italy in November.

Van Persie only returned for Arsenal at the end of last season, but his double last night showed he should be fit and firing for the World Cup. Both goals came during a dominant first-half display, and while Van Persie was indebted to a pair of defence-splitting assists by midfield duo Rafael van der Vaart and Ibrahim Afellay, he converted both chances with unerring confidence.

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"The assists of Van der Vaart and Afellay were both amazing," Van Persie said. "It wasn't too much of a problem to find the net after their great passes. This Dutch team really is of very high quality.

"We were quite impressive for the majority of the first half and we have shown what we're capable of. I've seen some very good attacks before the break. We were unable to keep up our good form after the interval, but that isn't too much of a problem. It was our first exhibition game so we are satisfied.

"We have trained very hard in the past couple of days and that showed in the second half."

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Javier Hernandez is keen to keep up a family tradition.

His father and grandfather played in the tournament, and the 21-year-old’s talent earns him strong consideration to make the squad as Mexico will face North Korea on Wednesday night.

Playing in the World Cup was never so much an option as it was an expectation for Javier Hernandez.

After all his dad was on the Mexican team in 1986, the last time El Tri made it to the World Cup quarterfinals. And his grandfather played in the 1954 tournament, scoring Mexico's final goal.

But all that's history, says Javier Aguirre, coach of this year's Mexican team. The ghosts of World Cups past will have no effect in determining who makes Mexico's roster for this summer's tournament.

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"The World Cup is in June. We're in March. We don't know who's going to make it," Aguirre said when asked about Hernandez's status.

"He is working just like everyone else. We have to go through a selection process and pick out the best."

In that case, count Hernandez in. Because as El Tri prepares to face North Korea on Wednesday night in its first game on Mexican soil this season, no one has been near as consistent as the 21-year-old from Guadalajara.

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World Cup Draw Reaction : Mexico

Mexico's coach Javier Aguirre is quietly confident that his Mexican team will qualify from their World Cup 2010 group A despite the presence of hosts South Africa and formers winners France and Uruguay.

Speaking after the draw Aguirre said "South Africa will be under considerable pressure as host nation, but they will also benefit from immense local support and familiarity with their surroundings. I’m not going to label this group either difficult or manageable – I’m going to call it unique, without one clear favourite."

"We are due to face three opponents that all possess their own distinct style. We’re going to have to study them closely, to get to know them and to select appropriate opposition in our upcoming friendly matches to accustom ourselves to similar styles of play. Even if our pool does indeed contain two previous World Cup winners, I happen to believe that from the moment my players walk out on to the pitch, history is no longer a factor."

Reacting to facing South Africa in the opening match of the tournament Aguirre said "For me and our young players it's very important. The first game is always very important, We play the hosts for three points in the opening game of the World Cup. We have to be in the best shape that's possible."

World Cup Draw Reaction : France

French coach Raymond Domenech has welcomed the draw that pits his French side against the hosts South Africa, Uruguay and Mexico.

Speaking after the draw Domenech said "The first thing that’s clear when you look at the make-up of the eight groups – and ours in particular – is that it’s not going to be easy for anyone. We are truly delighted and honoured to be playing against an African team at the first World Cup to be held in the continent, but even more so against the host nation."

"We’re all aware that they will have the unwavering support of the whole country behind them, and that will be something we will have to deal with. We can also look forward to facing two teams from Latin America, and we know that they will be challenging opponents. One advantage for us is that they play a style that we are familiar with – very skillful, and capable of lulling teams into a false sense of security."

"We must be careful not to fall into that trap. We’ve played against both these teams in the not-too-distant past, so we know what to expect. We can now start calmly preparing for the summer, with one positive outcome already assured – we won’t be playing any of our group matches at altitude, which was something I really wanted to avoid."

World Cup Draw Reaction : Uruguay

Uruguay coach Washington Tabarez insists their Group is the true group of death. The Uruguayans are in Group A, alongside hosts South Africa, Mexico and France.

Speaking after Fridays draw held in Cape Town the Uruguayan coach insisted "In each World Cup it is said that there is a death group - well, we are in that group. South Africa are the hosts, Mexico and France are very difficult teams. We didn't have any choice, this is what the draw gave to Uruguay and we will have to face it."

"We will have to work very hard and analyse carefully each team and what we will do in each match. Of course, besides that our group must be the most difficult one I am optimistic, I trust in the quality and the character of the Uruguayan players. If I didn't trust in my players I would stay at home."

"In fact, my opinion is that if we start the competition in a difficult group and we get a positive result in it, then maybe what comes later is not so difficult. So I am optimistic regarding what Uruguay has to do in the World Cup."

World Cup Draw Reaction : South Africa

Bafana Bafana Coach Carlos Alberto Parreira remains confident that his charges will reach the knockout stages of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, despite being placed along the best teams in the world.

The outspoken Brazilian told reporters on Saturday, a day after the tournament's Final Draw that South Africans must not be scared by France, Mexico, Uruguay, adding that it all lies on commitment and proper planning.

Bafana Bafana has been drawn in the Group A of the World Cup with France, which consists of world acclaimed players, South American giants Uruguay and Mexico - many South Africans are afraid that the national team might be eliminated in the first round of the tournament.

"We are placed with best in the world but that doesn't scare us. I don't believe in words but in action. Nobody can climb Mount Everest with words.

"We need commitment, planning and strategy to climb the mountain. We will make it only if we are mentally and physically prepared," said Parreira.

Several international and local journalists have been criticising the national team for its under-par performance displayed in recent games.

This has created an impression that it would be the first time for a host nation to be eliminated in the first round of the World Cup.

Meanwhile, the national team coach openly expressed that most of Bafana Bafana players were not mentally and physically fit which was the main reasons for the team's poor performance.

"Those who want to be in Bafana Bafana must be prepared mentally and physically. With the six weeks in Brazil and Germany we will be working hard on players' mental and physical fitness.

"With the mental preparations and the commitment of players we can make it. I'm committing myself and this draw has boosted my spirit, and I'm motivated now as before," the coach said.

Bafana Bafana will play their first game and also the opening match of the 2010 FIFA World Cup against Mexico in Soccer City, Johannesburg on 11 June - a game that will determine whether the national team will proceed to the next round.

However, Parreira maintained that there was no need to worry about Mexico, adding that he knows their game style. He said all he needed was for the players to rebuild the spirit they showed in the FIFA Confederations Cup in June.

"All our opponents in the group use a similar method of game, they like playing the ball on the ground. I know the Mexicans they run a lot, they are physical and play a very interesting game.

"But we don't have to worry about them but worry about ourselves. We have to go out there and fight like worriers," said Parreira, who won the World Cup in 1994 with Brazil.

Meanwhile, South African Football Association Vice-President, Chief Mwelo Nonkonyana said they were confident that Bafana Bafana will not disappoint their fans.

"Although we are placed with the best teams in the world we are confident that our national team will make it to the next round of the next year's tournament."

Bafana Bafana will play its second match against Uruguay in Pretoria's Loftus Versfeld Stadium on 16 June; perhaps the spirit of Soweto Uprising will play a part. The national team will play its last group match against France on 22 June 2010 in Mangaung/Bloemfontein. - BuaNews