Brief stories from Day 1 of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa:
Midfield tweak boosted Bafana, says John Barnes
JOHANNESBURG: Former England and Liverpool star John Barnes said a half-time midfield tweak helped South Africa draw 1-1 against Mexico Friday in the World Cup opener.
Barnes attributed the first-half havoc created by the central Americans to Reneilwe Letsholonyane failing to assist Kagisho Dikgacoi in containing livewires Giovani dos Santos and Carlos Vela at the Soccer City stadium.
"South Africa were fortunate still to be in the game at half-time as they conceded acres of space to the Mexicans," said the 46-year-old ex-midfielder.
"Once Bafana Bafana (The Boys) got the midfield balance right, the passing improved, the possession increased and the chances came. It was a great second half display by the hosts.
"I suspect South Africa will be a little disappointed with the result after leading but they should not. A draw was a fair result to a game of two halves," he told South Africa's SuperSport TV.
Maradona tips Di Maria for record transfer
JOHANNESBURG: Argentina coach Diego Maradona believes young Benfica and Argentina winger Angel Di Maria could be on the verge of a world record transfer.
"He is a young player who is improving every day. Di Maria no longer sticks to the left side of pitch and when he faces you, you see his heart.
"You could try to buy a player who can beat defenders twice in a match but in Di Maria we have a player who can beat defenders seven or eight times.
"You could sell him for hundreds of millions and he'd be worth every penny."
Japan help 'thief-prone' fans
GEORGE: The Japanese embassy in South Africa will deploy a five-man "mobile unit" to help Japanese fans in distress at their World Cup group matches against Cameroon, the Netherlands and Denmark.
"Japanese are seen as easy targets for thieves," Hideyuki Sakamoto of the Japanese embassy said at Japan's World Cup base camp of George, adding that the unit will be dressed in orange jackets.
"But don't mistake them for the Dutch team," he joked.
England over-confident on underpants
LONDON: If the England World Cup team need some lucky underpants, then fear not: a whole load of them have been dispatched to their training base.
A novelty underwear firm has made a personalised pair of pants for every member of the England squad with their names on the rear and a Three Lions logo.
Gary King, a director at the company, said: "We hope the pants will give Rooney and Co the Y-factor when they take on the USA."
Aussie goalie will not return
Australia coach Pim Verbeek said Friday that goalkeeper Brad Jones, who returned home following his son's serious illness, will not return to the World Cup and has been replaced by Eugene Galekovic.
"It has been decided that Jones will not be returning to South Africa and will remain with his family," said a team statement.
"Due to these special circumstances, FIFA has granted Football Federation Australia special approval to replace Brad Jones with fellow goal keeper Eugene Galekovic in the Socceroos squad in the lead up to their opening Group D match against Germany on Sunday in Durban."
Australia's second match of the tournament will be against Ghana on June 19 and then Serbia on June 23.
First Red Card
Uruguay's Nicolas Lodeiro became the first player to be sent off at the 2010 World Cup on Friday when he was red-carded for a brutal tackle on France's Bakary Sagna in their Group A match.
Lodeiro received his marching orders in the 81st minute, just 15 minutes after coming on as a substitute.
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