Just 6 months to go until the World Cup starts in South Africa so its a good time to start having a look at the teams involved. We’ll start this week with Group A

France
Ranked 7 by FIFA
Winners in 1998
Manager: Raymond Domenench
Key Player: Franck Ribery
Not the most popular of the qualified teams because of the way they got past Ireland in the playoffs but should stroll the group stage
Footballbits Group prediction – Winners

South Africa
Ranked 86 by FIFA
Hosts, Best World cup – 1st round 1998 and 2002
Manager: Carlos Alberto Parreira
Key Player: Steven Pienaar, Playing well for Everton and may thrive on the reponsibility of inspiring his country.
The lowest FIFA ranked team in the finals
Footballbits Group prediction – 4th

Mexico
Ranked 15 by FIFA
Quarter finalists in 1970 and 1986
Manager: Javier Aguirre
Key Player: Rafael Marquez, twice Champions League winner with Barcelona, strong in defence and a great long pass
Footballbits Group prediction – 2nd

Uruguay
Ranked 19 by FIFA
Winners in 1930 and 1950
Manager: Oscar Tabarez
Key Player: Diego Forlan, Much improved from the player that was at Manchester United
Footballbits Group prediction – 3rd

Matches
June 11th South Africa v Mexico
June 11th Uruguay v France
June 16th South Africa v Uruguay
June 17th France v Mexico
June 22nd Mexico v Uruguay
June 22nd France v South Africa

How we think it will finish:
1st France
2nd Mexico
3rd Uruguary
4th South Africa

Next week we’ll have a look at the teams in Group B