Tournament News
Bookies fancy Bafana defeat
2010-06-22 09:27
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Garrin Lambley
Cape Town - Bookmakers have installed France as favourites to beat South Africa in their crunch final Group A game of the 2010 Soccer World Cup at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein on Tuesday.
Kick-off is at 16:00.
Leading SA bookmakers, GreatOdds, have France on offer at 13/10. Bafana can be backed at 19/10 with a draw available at 23/10.
France striker Thierry Henry is the 4/1 favourite to open the scoring, while Bafana's Katlego Mphela is the hosts' leading hope for a goal at 15/2.
However, no matter the outcome, France and South Africa won't have their SWC fate in their own hands with the other Group A match scheduled for the same kick-off time in Rustenburg between group leaders Uruguay and second-placed Mexico likely to determine who progresses to the Round of 16.
GreatOdds fancy the draw at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium with a stalemate on offer at 7/10. Uruguay can be backed at 17/5 and Mexico at 11/4.
Click HERE for the latest Group A standings.
In the overall betting stakes, France are 150/1 favourites to win the tournament and add to their 1998 title while Bafana are rank outsiders at 1 000/1 to shock the world and lift the trophy. Uruguay and Mexico are both 33/1 to be crowned champions.
France, who are a team in turmoil after the sending home of striker Nicolas Anelka and the subsequent team strike last weekend, are appearing at their 13th SWC. They drew their opening match against Uruguay 0-0 in Cape Town, before being humbled 2-0 by Mexico in Polokwane.
Hosts Bafana, appearing at just their third SWC, were involved in a memorable 1-1 opening match draw against Mexico in Johannesburg, before crashing to a 3-0 defeat against Uruguay in Pretoria.
Squads for the South Africa v France match:
South Africa:
Goalkeepers: Moeneeb Josephs (Orlando Pirates), Shu-Aib Walters (Maritzburg United)
Defenders: Matthew Booth (Mamelodi Sundowns), Siboniso Gaxa (Mamelodi Sundowns), Bongani Khumalo (SuperSport United), Tsepo Masilela (Maccabi Haifa/ISR), Aaron Mokoena (Portsmouth/ENG, captain), Anele Ngcongca (Racing Genk/BEL), Siyabonga Sangweni (Golden Arrows), Lucas Thwala (Orlando Pirates)
Midfielders: Reneilwe Letsholonyane (Chiefs), Siphiwe Tshabalala (Chiefs), Lance Davids (Ajax Cape Town), Thanduyise Khuboni (Arrows), Teko Modise (Orlando Pirates), Surprise Moriri (Mamelodi Sundowns), Steven Pienaar (Everton/ENG), Macbeth Sibaya (Rubin Kazan/RUS)
Strikers: Katlego Mphela (Mamelodi Sundowns), Siyabonga Nomvete (Moroka Swallows), Bernard Parker (Twente/NED)
France:
Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris (Lyon), Steve Mandanda (Marseille), Cedric Carrasso (Bordeaux)
Defenders: William Gallas (Arsenal/ENG), Eric Abidal (Barcelona/ESP), Bakary Sagna (Arsenal/ENG), Patrice Evra (Manchester United/ENG), Gael Clichy (Arsenal/ENG), Marc Planus (Bordeaux), Anthony Reveillere (Lyon), Sebastien Squillaci (Sevilla/ESP)
Midfielders: Abou Diaby (Arsenal/ENG), Alou Diarra (Bordeaux), Lassana Diarra (Real Madrid/ESP), Yoann Gourcuff (Bordeaux), Florent Malouda (Chelsea/ENG), Jeremy Toulalan (Lyon)
Strikers: Djibril Cisse (Panathinaikos/GRE), Andre-Pierre Gignac (Toulouse), Sidney Govou (Lyon), Thierry Henry (Barcelona/ESP), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich/GER), Mathieu Valbuena (Marseille)