UPDATE No3

This one is the last before the phony war is over, and we can start to talk about actual matches rather than the last friendlies or who has fallen over a bit and isn't feeling to chipper.

England of course played a final friendly earlier in the week against local team Platinum Stars, and you'll notice the complete absence of comment on it here. Thats mainly because despite watching most of it live on Sky Sports News I really couldn't find anything at all worth commenting on other than Wayne Rooney being a bit stupid, which you'll already have found out from one of the many press reports on a meaningless match, and the fact that the whole match was played at the sort of pace that would make Test Match cricket look like a second by second thrill ride.

What was vaguely interesting was that the Manager chose to start with Mini Judas and the Sideshow Freak up front, which coincides with my own feelings about the group stage, maybe Fabio reads me.

Other England news revolves around who has fallen over, who didn't fancy training, and when Rio Ferdinand will go home and then come back again. It also involves Dizzy Rascal who i rather like and James Corden who is kicking the arse out of it.

In other news, Mr Capello has had a row with a photographer. how exciting!

INJURIES

Manc and Portugal second string gheyboy Nani is out. If his performance for his National team is anything like his performances for his club, then it's probably a result for Portugal as they aren't short of drama queens as it is.

Iniesta has a minor thigh strain picked up in Spain's 6-0 demolition of long term England Nemesis Poland.

Terrifyingly, David Villa, David Silva, Torres, Fabregas and Xabi Alonso all scored in the game, so Spain wouldn't look as short of Goal scorers as say, England.

Sulley Muntari is a worry for Ghana, who have already lost Michael Essien from their midfield.

TRANSFER NEWS

World cup related transfers, quite apart from the dull and interminable Fabregas to Barcelona soap opera include Joe Cole and Michael Ballack having been released by Chelsea but no announcements on clubs yet, and Everton buying Portugal striker Joao Silva.

Less concrete is Villa losing Millner to Man Citeh who will also end up with Zatlan Ibrahimovich from Barca according to Hristo Stoichkov who doesn't rate the lanky Swede.

Apparently Inter Milan fancy Dirk Kuyt and Javier Mascherano, who would have guessed that link what with them being less than loved by the Liverpool fans and beardie loser Rafa Benietez going to Inter......

MATCH PREVIEW

SOUTH AFRICA V MEXICO

The big opener.

South Africa will need an enormous dose of home advantage to beat the useful Mexican side that has recently performed well against England and Holland before beating Italy in a late warm-up game.

South Africa have been woeful in recent years, and have lost their portly top striker Benni McCarthy who has swapped football for Pro-celebrity pie eating in the last 12 months.

Arsenal fans will keep an eye out for Mexico striker Vela, whilst Everton and Plymouth fans will be following Bafana Bafana with Steven Pienaar and Aaron Mokoena respectively playing in the Saffa side.

FRANCE V URUGUAY.

Bookies have the first booing of French coach Domenech at 30 to 40 seconds into the game following their last warm up game ending in an embarrassing defeat to China.

Florent Malouda has been all over the press telling the world that les Bleus are rubbish, and Thiery Henry's place in the team for the opening game is in doubt.

France are also notorious for their slow starts in Tournaments, so could be on the end of a hiding here. there's little point in listing players you might know, as you have heard of all of them, but do keep an eye out for Youan Gorcouff of Bordeaux, who is a very decent player and might well end up, shockingly for a Frenchman, at Arsenal.

Uruguay qualified well, beat a useful Israel team 4-1 in a late qualifier, and are playing well. Manc Utd fans may or may not want to cheer on Diego Forlan, but far more interesting is 23 year old Ajax striker Luis Suarez who has scored a fair few and is fancied by some of Europe's biggest clubs if he continues in the same vein.