Johannesburg - South Africa captain Aaron Mokoena insists the hosts are ready to impress at the World Cup which starts on Friday.

Bafana Bafana, who are on a 12-game unbeaten streak, will open the tournament against Mexico at Soccer City and Mokoena is confident his team can shine.

"Our preparations for the World Cup have gone very well," he told the Sowetan.

"The training camps in Durban, Brazil, Germany and Johannesburg have helped us to be in the best shape of our lives.

"The team is fit and ready for the big war and undoubtedly the biggest in the history of South African soccer.

"We are playing at home and the good thing is that the whole country is behind us, which is something that serves as a big motivation for all of us.

"As players we are very excited to see many of our people flying the national flag on their cars, houses, offices, airports and in the streets.

"South Africans will serve as a 12th player, not only in the game against Mexico but throughout the tournament.

"It is also good to see our people wearing the Bafana Bafana replica jerseys.

"We will do our utmost to make them happy to be South Africans in this tournament."?