South Africa vs Mexico Review

I'm due for a preview. and I'll put it out before the REAL World Cup starts, tomorrow. I was as excited as anyone else for today's first game and still excited for the next one in about an hour. However, the first day rarely brings anything to special. Teams don't want to be battling back from down 3 points with a goal differential in the minuses. When 28 other teams haven't taken to the pitch. Look at France in 2002, when they were shocked by Senegal in the opener. While South Africa gave us something special to cheer about for a while, it ended as it should be in a draw. Check back for my preview (nothing changes even after today's results, I put South Africa and Mexico through in every pick'em I've played).

South Africa 1 Mexico (even though they were wearing black) 1

The Good
South Africa: Though they were up 1-0 and probably could have earned 3 points, Bafana Bafana has to be happy with one. Nobody has given them any chance. The young 22 year old Khune in goal, made some great saves and his distribution from goal embodied my favorite line "last line of defense first line of offense." New favorite non-American keeper (right behind tim Howard and Ryan Miller).
Mexico: The offense created numerous chances, just weren't finishing. Good teams figure out how to finish, but creating chances is tough. Marquez is back on form. Mexico also has the world's best 12th man, in that for 11 minutes they can bring in Blanco but in the 12th he's already tired.

The Bad
South Africa: Their best player did not show up. They may have been better off with Matt Damon's "Pienaar" rather than Everton's. Also not good when the entire defensive line steps except for the one who should be calling out the step.
Mexico: The defense was extremely susceptible to anyone with speed and/or two feet. You have to assume that Uruguay and France will play a speedy striker in their matches. Going forward with Perez may be a mistake. He was certainly adventurous off is line on more than one occasion, but his save making ability is not as good as that of Ochoa IMO.

The Ugly
Besides Cuahtemoc Blanco's physique? I think it was Juarez, in a tournament where yellow cards add up, halting a quick restart 20 minutes in when your team has dominated in every aspect of the game is just a poor decision.