Day 1 - All square in Group A

So the big day finally arrived and the ITV commentators virtually arrived in their trousers talking about how much of an event it was for the continent of Africa. Once Sepp Blatter has taken all the plaudits we actually got down the important stuff. A Mexican side who troubled England at Wembley in the lead-up to this tournament looked sharper than the hosts, especially early on, but a superb goal by a winger whose name i can't spell gave Bafana Bafana real hope of an opening day victory. Part-time Barca defender Rafa Marquez levelled late on, and though the better football came from the South Americans, a draw was probably about right. The second game involved France. Less said the better.

South Africa 1 Mexico 1
Mexico were the better side but showed, as they did against England, a lack of firepower - having seen Guillermo Franco play first hand, I can confirm that he is not the most dynamic of strikers. South Africa were spurred on by the occasion and Tshabalala’s opening goal was a beauty. Couldn’t have been any further in the top corner if it tried.

Some schoolboy defending allowed Rafael Marquez to equalise. A point is not a bad result for South Africa and they will not be frightened to have a go at Uruguay and France. (MM)

A decent start to the tournament. The first half was fairly light on action but things were a fair bit more lively after the break. South Africa's goal was brilliant to watch and the way they celebrated it was exactly the sort of thing even the least sentimental cynic secretly wants to see at a World Cup. (DK)

Mexico are a strange beast. Very impressed with them but they're ineffective infront of goal and should have seen this game off. Giovani looked like a world beater, which just shows how weird competitions like this can me. There's a lot to like about the Mexicans - they move very well, the full-backs are adventurous, they're slick and easy on the eye. South Africa aren't all that, but similarly lack a centre-forward. Neither will get past the second round at best, but interesting to watch for very different reasons. Salcido's quite a tidy player. (JS)

Uruguay 0 France 0
Dullsville. France looked very poor with a real lack of invention. Ribery was off the boil, Anelka played as has done for Chelsea since Christmas and the less said about Sidney Govou the better. Must improve. Uruguay’s lack of attacking intent was a little surprising as Suarez and Forlan could have caused the French back four more problems than they did. Not even Nicolas Lodeiro’s sending off 16 minutes after coming on as a substitute could liven things up and only ensured the final ten minutes were completed without further ado. (MM)

Pretty turgid, dull affair that I could have done without watching. Diaby is that special kind of awful player whose complete awfulness is sharpened by the fact he can be a very capable footballer. He'd spend five minutes dictating play and then the next fifteen flopping about like a seal in a France kit. And Henry appealing for a penalty almost resulted in me headbutting my TV. (DK)

Typical of most of the opening games, both sides were more interested in not losing than trying to take all three points. France remain limp in attack, and the inclusion of Govou is simply outstanding - the boy's a retard. Toulalan did okay, but he was the only one as they struggled to break down a tough Uruguay side, despite the best efforts of calamity captain Diego Lugano. Without Godin to hold his hand France, despite being dire, could have snook it. (JS)

Matt Morrison, Daniel Kelly, John Singh