Uzbek referee Ravshan Irmatov insists he is not nervous as the clock ticks down to the biggest game of his career. Irmatov has been selected to officiate the opening match of the World Cup Friday between hosts South Africa and Mexico – only the second time that an Asian Football Confederation ref has been picked for such a job. An international referee for eight seasons, he was Asia's top man in the middle in both 2008 and 2009 and has previously taken charge of games at Under-17 World Cups and was also on duty at the 2008 Club World Cup in Japan. “We are not refereeing for the first time. That's why we are used to this atmosphere. We go and just do our jobs. Nothing extraordinary,” the 32-year-old said on the Asian Football Confederation website. “These kinds of pressure-packed games are the pinnacle of a referee's career,” he added. “Every referee dreams of being at the World Cup. Those that don't have that dream are not professional referees. “And every referee wishes to officiate at the opening game and final of the World Cup. I didn't expect it, but I accept this with great joy.” Japan's Yuichi Nishimura will make it a double delight for Asian referees by taking charge of the second match between former champions France and Uruguay, also in Group A, in Cape Town. Chile blanks New Zealand Gonzalo Fierro and Esteban Paredes scored a goal each to help Chile beat New Zealand 2-0 in a training match Wednesday before the World Cup. Fierro scored with a shot at the near post in the 67th minute, with Paredes firing the second three minutes later. Both teams made wholesale changes during the three 30-minute periods of the match held in Ka Nyamazane, a small town near Nelspruit. Uruguay announces starting 11 for France Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez has named his starting team for Friday's World Cup match against France, with defender Mauricio Victorino and midfielder Egidio Arevalo the surprise picks. Victorino's callup means Andres Sotti will on the bench, while Arevalo starts ahead of Walter Gargano. Diego Forlan of Atletico Madrid is partnered up front by Ajax's Luis Suarez in the lineup released by Tabarez Wednesday. Uruguay also faces Mexico and South Africa in Group A. Ticket sales hit 97 percent World Cup ticket sales have hit 97 percent and organizers are expecting to have sold more than 98 percent of the more than 3 million tickets by the end of the tournament.
