Bafana Bafana head coach Carlos Alberto Parreira has promised Mexico "hell" when the two countries clash today in the opening match of the Fifa 2010 World Cup.
"It will be war," declares the Brazilian. "We respect Mexico but we are not afraid. We want to deliver and we gonna give hell to any team that will play against us on the ground, including today's match," he says.
The 67-year-old, a veteran of five World Cups as coach, envisages some nerves from the two teams as most opening World Cup matches he's watched previously are usually "a lot of pressure".
"I have seen many World Cups as coach and working for Fifa and the opening game from my experience is a lot of pressure. The opening game is always the tough game and it is intimidating for both teams, because the whole world is watching you. The whole country is involved so we want the boys to win as much as the pressure will be big.
"We want to enjoy the game and I know it is not easy to enjoy the game playing against a team so good as Mexico. But the good thing about Bafana now is that we have a face, we have an identity," he says.
Parreira also revealed the players are probably relaxed heading into this encounter against the 'El Tri' as he's been allowing them some free time with their respective families.
"We are not in a prison. We are not in a military. The families, the wives, the kids or whatever it is they have been coming to the hotel. Every now and then we also give them free time to go to their homes to see their families. It is important that they refresh their minds and this is not an army. But now that we are starting the chances of seeing their families will be small," Parreira adds.
Source: Kickoff.com
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