South Africa will field the same line-up for the World Cup opening game against Mexico as they used to beat Denmark 1-0 in their final warm-up game.

Coach Carlos Alberto Parreira told media on the eve of the match on Thursday he had no reason to change the line-up and that the players already knew who would start.

Katlego Mphela scored the only goal of the game at Atteridgeville near Pretoria on Saturday as South Africa stretched their unbeaten run to 12 games.

South Africa have had a hectic few days leading up to Friday's World Cup opener against Mexico but coach Carlos Alberto Parreira said he understood the sudden football fever sweeping the country.

"We were expecting to have days of calmness and focus on the game," the former World Cup winning coach told a news conference at Soccer City in Johannesburg on Thursday, "but I can understand because football in this country has been sleeping for many years.

"There is a ray of hope now because of the good performance of the team and the good preparation and the World Cup coming for the first time to the African continent.

"We have to understand the feelings of the people and we liked what we have seen," he said.

Parreira and five players undertook an unusual open bus tour on Wednesday to greet thousands of vuvuzela-blowing supporters crammed into the shopping district of Sandton, near the team's Johannesburg hotel in a noisy demonstration of pre-tournament support.

The South Africa squad, considered no hopers before a sudden turn in their fortunes over the last months, have also been visited at training by President Jacob Zuma attended various functions over the last week.

"We can feel the joy and the happiness of the people. It is something very spontaneous. They are there because they believe.

"But I don't want my players to be to affected by all that. Now we have a World Cup game. It is kind of a war. The opening game is a very difficult match, but we have confidence. We want to make this country proud."

Parreira used the news conference to confirm South Africa's team, sticking with the starting line-up that won their last two warm-up games.

The coach, a winner of the 1994 World Cup with his native Brazil, said he did not think there would be a fitter side than the South Africans at this tournament.

"We are well prepared and in better physical condition than anyone else," added Parreira.

Captain Aaron Mokoena said Parreira's expertise had been vital in turning around the fortunes of the side.

"He's been there before and he's done it. We as a team need to build up our confidence, we had to win the support of South Africa and it is through his expertise that we are now talking about a Bafana Bafana team an identity and a face," the defender said.