Teams continue to stream into SA

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Pretoria - Football teams from Serbia, Germany, Ghana, New Zealand, Algeria and Slovenia have landed in South Africa, bringing the total number of teams to 26 out of 32 in South Africa for the FIFA World Cup, which kicks off on Friday.

Serbia arrived at OR Tambo International Airport this morning for the tournament. The team was then transferred to Sunnyside Park Hotel in Park Town, Johannesburg.

The team will kick-off their FIFA World Cup campaign against Ghana on 13 June at Loftus Versfeld in Tshwane before they face Germany and Australia in Group D. Last Wednesday, Serbia was held to a goalless draw by Poland in their preparatory match for the mega tournament.

On Monday, the Local Organising Committee (LOC) welcomed Germany, Ghana, New Zealand, Algeria and Slovenia. "It is with pleasure that we welcome the five teams that arrived today to South Africa. With the majority of the participants now in the country we are one step closer to kick-off on 11 June," said LOC boss Danny Jordaan.

German coach Joachim Low said there was a great welcome when they arrived. "It shows the joy and the excitement with which the South Africans are waiting for the World Cup. And, it shows that they will do anything for their guests from around the world," he said.

Germany will open their campaign in Durban against Australia on 13 June. They will then travel to Nelson Mandela Bay to face Serbia on 18 June, ending the opening round of matches against Ghana in Soccer City on 23 June.

After playing their opening match against Serbia, Ghana will travel to Rustenburg to face Australia on 19 June.

New Zealand will open their tournament against Slovakia at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg on 15 June.

The team will then travel to Nelspruit to face defending World Cup champions, Italy on 20 June, ending their opening round games in Polokwane against Paraguay on 24 June.

Algeria will play their opening match in Polokwane against Slovenia on 13 June, before they travel to Cape Town's Green Point Stadium to face England on 18 June.

Algeria will then face the USA in Tshwane in their final group match on 23 June.

Slovenia's tournament will begin in Polokwane's Peter Mokaba Stadium against Algeria on 13 June. The team will then travel to the City of Johannesburg to play USA at Coca-Cola Park on 18 June. Slovenia will then travel from Johannesburg to Nelson Mandela Bay to face England in their final group match on 23 June.