Capsules for Friday’s matches: Mexico-South Africa, France-Uruguay

Mexico-SAfrica, France-Uruguay capsules

Capsules for Friday’s matches at the World Cup (FIFA rankings in parentheses):

Soccer City will be the center of the sports universe as the 2010 tournament kicks off.

South Africa: Bafana Bafana is led by Everton midfielder Steven Pienaar and Portsmouth midfielder/defender Aaron Mokoena. Its defense is suspect.

Mexico: An infusion of youth, led by Giovani Dos Santos and Andres Guardado, helped Mexico qualify. Coach Javier Aguirre now seems enamored of his veterans, though.

Notable Fact: Every host has advanced from the first round, but South Africa is ranked 31st among the 32 World Cup teams and has never gotten past the opening round.

The coastal city stages the first of eight games, including a semifinal, at 64,000-seat Green Point Stadium.

France: A team in turmoil that has caught plenty of grief for Thierry Henry’s handball that set up a goal against Ireland to clinch qualifying.

Uruguay: Diego Forlan is among the most prolific scorers in the world, and fellow forward Luis Suarez isn’t far behind.

Notable Fact: Both nations have won the title, France as host in 1998, Uruguay as host in 1930 and at Brazil in 1950.