He will have been concerned by England's defensive vulnerability, but he was able to see injury-plagued Tottenham defender King complete 90 minutes and his worries will be placed in context by the knowledge he has Chelsea duo John Terry and Ashley Cole to recall.
They might have fallen behind after only 90 seconds when home defender Ian Evatt's header appeared destined for the top corner but Michel Salgado headed the ball on to the underside of the bar before it was scrambled clear.
"I don't envy the Mexicans, who are going to be subject to 90, 000 vuvuzelas, " said South Africa defender Matthew Booth, referring to the loud horns that Bafana Bafana supporters bring to matches.