With inconsistent and unpredictable Uruguay completing the quartet, Friday's World Cup opener between the hosts and Mexico at Soccer City, already the focus of the world's attention, has assumed even greater importance for both sides.
South Africa's fortunes have changed completely since Brazilian Carlos Alberto Parreira returned as coach in November.
Last week's 1-0 win over Denmark in their final warm-up, stretched their unbeaten run to 12 matches and speculation that Bafana Bafana would become the first host nation not to survive the opening round is beginning to fade.
Parreira said on Sunday his team now "fear nobody."
"Everyone has to respect us. I believe the team has shown itself ready for the World Cup. We will go into the tournament with confidence and now we can start to dream about a position, about achieving something," he said.
Coach Javier Aguirre has confidently said in recent weeks: "This is the best Mexico squad we have ever had at a World Cup."
Victory over South Africa in the opener would give Mexico's growing self-confidence extra steel and set them up for an intriguing second match against France in Polokwane on June 17.
However, few French fans expect their team to succeed and many across the world believe they should not even be here because of the part Thierry Henry's hand played in the build-up to the goal that led to their play-off success against Ireland.
Uruguay's World Cup successes came long ago - they won the tournament in 1930 and 1950 - and while their ambitions are now more modest they will do well to make it past the group stage.
