With the FIFA World Cup only 121 days away from kick-off, football legends Franz Beckenbauer, Roger Milla, Hugo Sanchez, Sir Bobby Charlton and Pele have expressed their excitement over the global showpiece.

"The anticipation is huge. It will be an African World Cup and I'm really looking forward to it, because it's going to be very colourful and very entertaining," German legend Franz Beckenbauer told FIFA.com.

He added: "It's been this way since the Final Draw in December, when we found out who would be playing who. It will be an African World Cup and I'm really looking forward to it, because it?s going to be very colourful and very entertaining."

Cameroonian great Roger Milla revealed his excitement that Africa is being given the opportunity to play host to the tournament.

"In Africa, we are so happy to have received this World Cup - we could not believe we would get it. Every time I come to Zurich, I thank President Blatter for that."

Sir Bobby Charlton, who inspired England to the world crown in 1966, echoed Milla's delight.

"It was the right decision to finally have an African country hosting this tournament.

"I'm sure that this FIFA World Cup will be a major success. I've been to South Africa a lot of times and people will enjoy it down there. I'm extremely happy that I will go to this year's World Cup. As always, I hope that England will do well."

Mexican great Hugo Sanchez concurred: "I'm very happy for Africa. The continent had to wait so many years for this occasion. To have South Africa hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup is not only very good for football, but also for the whole African continent."

Brazilian legend Pele, who long pushed for an African nation to be granted the right to host the FIFA World Cup, is relishing the extravaganza.

"Everybody knows that I'm very confident and happy because I was the one who was fighting for the World Cup to be in Africa," he said. "They deserve it."

And while Pele would like to the Africans excel, he naturally wants Brazil to emerge triumphant. "I'm personally very sorry that the World Cup is this year, in 2010, because ten is my lucky number and I wish I could play!" He joked.

"But as I'm not going to play, I hope that Brazil will go all the way and that we will see an exciting Final," concluded Pele.