体坛英语新闻：South African coach Parreira warns of threat from "daring" Mexico

JOHANNESBURG, June 10 (Xinhua) -- Carlos Alberto Parreira has warned his South Africa side of the threat posed by Mexico in the opener of the 19th World Cup finals on Friday.

Parreira described Mexico as "the most daring team" at the World Cup finals.

Never in the history of the World Cup has a home team failed to qualify for the second round, with Bafana Bafana, the second-lowest ranked nation in the 2010 tournament behind DPR Korea, desperate to maintain that trend.

Although confident, Parreira expects a difficult opening against the Mexican team led by Javier Aguirre in front of an expected 85,000 crowd.

"Tomorrow, as much as the pressure is big, it's a World Cup game, it's sort of a war," he said.

"Opening games are always difficult, there is lots of pressure, the whole country is involved and you are playing under the eyes of the world.

"We want to have fun, we want to enjoy the game.

"I know it's not easy to enjoy the game when you play a team as good as Mexico. They are the most daring team in this World Cup, the way they approach the game."

But Parreira is not afraid of the task that awaits his side on matchday one.

"We respect them, but we are not afraid." he said.