World Cup Stadium Profile: Green Point Stadium, Cape Town

Venues And Conditions / Ben Lyttleton / 03 March 2010 / Leave a comment Free £25 Bet

England will play Algeria at Cape Town's Green Point Stadium

Overlooking mountains and beach, the Green Point Stadium's capacity has been more than tripled for the World Cup, says Ben Lyttleton. If you're going to watch England play Algeria there, make sure you keep your lunch safe from the baboons.

"There will be no altitude issues in Cape Town: the city is located on either side of a mountain ridge on the Cape Peninsula and low-lying flat areas at sea level, which explains the Mediterranean climate and summer temperatures around 18°C."

The original Green Point stadium was a multi-purpose venue which was the home ground for Santos and Ajax Cape Town as well a music arena which has seen U2, Michael Jackson, and Robbie Williams all perform there. It's 18,000-capacity has been replaced by a 66,000-capacity, although that figure has not yet been tested.

The stadium only opened in January, when 20,000 fans watched the two Cape Town sides Santos and Ajax play out a goalless draw (Santos won 6-5 on penalties). In February, 40,000 fans saw more excitement when the stadium hosted its first rugby match, as Vodacom Stormers beat Boland Invitationals 47-13. The new stadium, which overlooks the mountains and beach of the city, has been partly built on land that was previously used as a golf course.

The highlights of the five group games to be played at Green Point include Ital v Paraguay, France v Uruguay and England v Algeria, while Portugal and Holland will also be playing group matches there. One round of 16, one quarter-final and one semi-final will also be at the stadium, which will become the city's main football venue after the tournament.

There will be no altitude issues in Cape Town: the city is located on either side of a mountain ridge on the Cape Peninsula and low-lying flat areas at sea level, which would explain the Mediterranean climate and summer temperatures around 18°C.

Cape Town is known as the Mother City and has been the legislative capital of South Africa since 1910. Its iconic landmark is Table Mountain, which looms over 1,000m above the city and can be seen some 200m away from the sea. The beaches on the Atlantic seaboard are well-known for attracting surfers while the dramatic views at Cape Point, with its famous lighthouse, can be enjoyed from the safety of your car while baboons jump from bonnet to bonnet looking to steal your food.

Wine-lovers will be in clover with all the vineyards and tastings within a short drive from Cape Town: one of the best is in Stellenbosch, where a wine-tasting session can be combined with the biggest barbeque imaginable, a course in falconry and an opportunity to pat tamed cheetahs. A short boat-trip to Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 years, is now seen as a symbol of hope, triumph and freedom in the country.

The football history of Cape Town is also diverse, and the area of Cape Flats is where Benni McCarthy and Quinton Fortune were born. Both are likely to miss out on the 2010 squad, but they are seen as a crucial part of the history of the national team, and by extension football in Cape Town.

Tags: Ben Lyttelton, England v Algeria, football betting, Green Point Stadium, South Africa 2010 betting, World Cup betting