South Africa's only previous flirtation with the World Cup came four years ago in France.
With several of their squad earning a crust at top European clubs the Bafana Bafana had a realistic chance of making it beyond the group stage.
That would have made them only the third African team, behind Cameroon and Nigeria, to make it to the second round.
Mark Fish, Lucas Radebe, Pierre Issa, Phil Masinga and Benni McCarthy all had experience of playing in some of the strongest Leagues in the world.
Hosts France were firm favourites to win the group.
But with Saudi Arabia and Denmark completing the foursome, South Africa knew they had a chance of sneaking through.
It was not to be however as coach Phillipe Troussier saw them finish third behind his native France and the Danes.
In their opening match at the Stade Velodrome in Marseilles hosts France eventually proved too strong after Troussier's men had put up a gallant fight.
They trailed by only one goal with 12 minutes to go before Issa put through his own net and Thierry Henry rounded off proceedings moments later.
The margin of that 3-0 defeat would eventually prove a psychological blow.
What would otherwise have been a highly-creditable draw with Denmark in the next game still left them relying on goal difference in the final match of the group stage.
Against Denmark, McCarthy, then with Ajax and now with Celta Vigo, had scored a late equaliser after Allan Nielsen had given the former European Champions an early lead.