Friday’s World Cup matches

Group A

Mexico vs. South Africa, Soccer City Stadium, Johannesburg

Time: 7 a.m. PDT

TV: ESPN, ESPN Deportes, Univision Radio: 710 ESPN, Sirius/XM

Mexico comes into this World Cup with lofty aspirations, but to accomplish any of its goals El Tri will have to avoid an upset in its first match. Former President Nelson Mandela and a raucous vuvuzela-blowing crowd of more than 90,000 mostly South African fans could rattle the young Mexicans, one reason Coach Javier Aguirre is expected to start seasoned veteran Oscar Perez in goal. South Africa, meanwhile, has been talking big, but it still needs a good result here if it hopes to avoid becoming the first World Cup host to be eliminated from the tournament in the first round.

— Kevin Baxter

France vs. Uruguay, Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town.

Time: 11:30 a.m. PDT

TV: ESPN, ESPN Deportes, Univision. Radio: Sirius/XM.

France, which won the tournament in 1998 and finished as the runner-up four years ago, plays Uruguay, the World Cup winner in 1930 and 1950 but much less of an international force since then. The French are favored, despite the squabbles that invariably seem to disrupt their preparations. Winger Franck Ribery still needs to prove that he belongs on the world stage. Forward Diego Forlan getting among the goals is vital to Uruguay’s hopes. “In my humble opinion, I think we can make life difficult for France,” said Uruguay Coach Oscar Tabarez. Chances of this one’s ending in a tie are very good.

— Grahame L. Jones