World Cup Preview - Group A - South Africa
Nickname: “Bafana Bafana (The Boys)”FIFA Ranking - 86th
Coach: World-Cup winning Brazilian Carlos Alberto Parreira.
Game Schedule:
June 11 – South Africa v. Mexico (Jo'burg, 10 a.m. EST, ESPN)
June 16 – South Africa v. Uruguay (Pretoria, 2:30 p.m., ESPN)
June 22 – South Africa v. France (Bloemfontein, 10 a.m., ESPN2)
Prospects: Fairly dismal, despite a favorable draw. South Africa bowed out at the first hurdle in both the 98 and 02 tournaments, and they'll have their work cut out for them in order to avoid being the host side not to progress to the Round of 16. Their record in recent friendlies has been wretched, and team morale was not helped by a farcical World Cup training camp in Germany, during which several sides including China pulled out of matches.
Key Player: Everton's Steven Pienaar. A quality wide man and disciplined by his time in the Premier League, unlike the head case Benni McCarthy.
Who Will Get the Goals: The Bafana Bafana rely overly heavily on McCarthy for goals, but keep an eye on Fulham squad player Kagisho Dikgacoi, top scorer in recent friendlies.
Funniest Name: Kaiser Chiefs winger Siphiwe Tshabalala - say that three times quickly.
Prediction: Third in the group stage and, sadly, out.
posted by The Blue Devil @ 9:15 AM
5 Comments:
Fair points but the hosts have ALWAYS qualified for the next round!
You're right, mate, and I think South Africa will run Mexico hard for second. But I would argue that South Africa are probably the worst side ever to host the World Cup, weaker even than Japan in 2002. The reality that Pienaar is their star tells you the whole story. That first match with Mexico will be absolutely key. I'd love to see them do over "El Tri" in that match because I think it would rob the tournament of a bit of the atmosphere not to have them around for the Round of 16.
Bob I agree. Given the paucity of South African talent, they can only progress if they roll into the last game against France and the ref starts sending off one Frenchman after another until automatic forfeit. South Africa are worse than Japan was and I'll go you one better. They're worse than USA '94! I haven't forgotten a central pairing of Balboa and Lalas and won't soon.
To be fair, the "Cello"/"Lexi" pairing kept the Brazilian eventual winning front line of Romario and Bebeto at bay for some 75 minutes in the 4th of July Round of 16 match.
The equivalent this time around would be for the South African side to get to the Round of 16 and then hold on to a 0-0 scoreline against an Argentinian side with Messi and Aguero bombing at them for 75 minutes. Can't see that happening.
Yeah, that and the 110 degree heat on the field. Please..., those Brazilians were their most defensive offering for many tournaments and when they needed to score, they did. Cello/Lexi, pffft. The Japanese of 2002 would have run them into the ground and eventually outlasted them, and Dooley and Earnie, and countless others that I loved, but was realistic about.
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