by Ryan D. Jaeger
Bookmakers like Victor Chandler and Ladbrokes were quick to inflate South Africa's odds of making it out of group qualifying after the host nation lost badly in Pretoria to Diego Forlan's Uruguay team.
Led by a sparkling performance from the ex-Manchester United failure, Uruguay scored via a lucky deflection, a dubious penalty, and a soft goal at the end to all but surely end SA's dreams of making it to the last 16.
No host nation of a World Cup has ever failed to advance from the opening group stage, but South Africa always looked odds-on to be the first, at least in last night's game where their toothless and generally ideas-free play was tough to watch.
Group A odds will swing violently again on Thursday when France clash with Mexico. The French are overrated and poor value in the betting markets once again here as they are 12/10 to win. Mexico will not be easy opponents and a loss for either team makes elimination a real possibility.
We recommend a bet on the draw tomorrow night, on offer at 22/10 with most UK bookies online. South Africa will need to earn the full 3 points on offer in their final game against France to have any chance of progressing, and based on their play on Wednesday it is hard to see how this can occur. South Africa had one shot on target all night, had their goalkeeper sent off (so he won't be able to play in the next
match) and will also lose the services of a starting defender thanks to two yellow cards.
Uruguay are now favourites to win the group and look set to advance, although they are likely to face old foes Argentina in the next round and that should be the end of the road for Forlan and co.
