This is it! Bafana Bafana will play France today in a crucial match to avoid becoming the first host team in World Cup history to fail to advance beyond the tournament's group stages.

It is expected that coach Carlos Alberto Parreira will make drastic changes to his line-up to bring in fresh legs.

Parreira told a press conference yesterday that he would make five changes to his starting 11, but would not name the new players.

Bafana insiders, however, told The Times that midfielder Teko Modise, who failed to shine during the side's 3-0 drubbing by Uruguay on Wednesday, will be relegated to the bench this afternoon to make way for striker Bernard Parker. Parker scored a thunderous long-range shot when South Africa played Denmark in a friendly before the tournament.

Parker is expected to assist the struggling Katlego Mphela upfront.

"This is the biggest of the five changes in the team and, even though Modise is the coach's favourite, there have been calls to start with Parker," the insider said.

To advance to the next stage, Bafana will have to win by at least three goals, and hope that the winner in games between other Group A teams - Mexico and Uruguay - score at least two goals.

The Fifa local organising committee has called for the nation to stand behind today's Football Tuesday campaign in support of Bafana. Coaches and former players have urged the boys to do South Africa proud.

Other changes to Parreira's gameplan are likely to include bringing on goalkeeper Moeneeb Josephs, who will replace the suspended Itumeleng Khune, and MacBeth Sibaya's replacement of suspended midfield work-horse Kagisho Dikgacoi.

Doubts remain about whether Parreira will drop Everton midfielder Steven Pienaar. Even his mother, Denise, admitted that he had not performed to his full potential. Thanduyise Khuboni, a favourite from the friendlies ahead of the tournament, might get the nod.

Rightback Siboniso Gaxa is also tipped to make way for Belgium-based Anele Ngcongca. Attacking midfielder Surprise Moriri is also tipped to start the game.

Former Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba said the game is not about how well the national team plays, but about "how many goals [we] score".

"Other teams, such as Portugal and Brazil, play with three strikers and I think, for us to win, we need to put a lot of pressure on France," he said.

Downplaying perceptions that the controversy surrounding the French team would affect its performance, he said Bafana needed a leader in the team.

"There is no one who is calling the shots, like [Patrice] Evra does for the French team," he said. "To win, we will need someone who can push the players to do better."

Khabo Zondo, a former Bafana assistant coach, said changes in the line-up should be in favour of players with an "attacking attitude".

Bafana faces a Les Bleus side plagued by insurrection.

Striker Nicolas Anelka, who landed in London yesterday, was expelled from the team for launching an expletive-laden tirade against his coach, Raymond Domenech.

But yesterday the French team, which had boycotted training on Sunday in support of Anelka, was back in training.

• Fifty lucky football fans will get a last-minute chance to watch the match between England and Slovenia live at the Nelson Mandela Bay stadium, in Port Elizabeth, tomorrow.

World Cup sponsor Coca-Cola will give more tickets away today at the StGeorge's Park fan fest.

http://www.go2010.co.za/