Compiled by Dylan Bettencourt
- Hugo Broos says South Korea can run for 90 minutes, comparing them to Duracell batteries before the must-win match.
- Bafana have one point from two games and will miss suspended midfielder Teboho Mokoena in their final Group A clash.
Bafana Bafana must beat South Korea to keep their World Cup hopes alive.
South Africa have one point from their first two Group A matches and face South Korea in Monterrey.
Coach Hugo Broos said South Korea will test Bafana for the full match.
“Sorry to make an expression like this but they are like Duracell, you plug them in and they start running and run for 90 minutes so it will not be easy,” said Broos.
He said South Korea sits somewhere between Mexico and Czechia in style.
“They are a very disciplined team. Eastern teams are always disciplined,” he said.
Bafana arrived in Monterrey on Monday to finish preparations for the match.
They cannot afford another slow start. South Africa conceded in the opening 10 minutes against both Mexico and Czechia.
Bafana legend Eric Tinkler said the team must be ready from the first whistle.
“They are a very good team, hard running, and we must be switched on from the first minute,” Tinkler told SportsBoom.
“We don’t need pretty football. Sometimes you play ugly and win. All we need is a convincing win and see where that takes us.”
Bafana will be without key midfielder Teboho Mokoena, who is banned for one match after getting yellow cards against Mexico and Czechia.
Mokoena scored Bafana’s only goal of the tournament so far, from the penalty spot in the 1-1 draw with Czechia.
Midfielder Jayden Adams said Bafana must find a way without him.
“It’s going to be very tough for us without him,” Adams told News24.
“But, you know, at this stage, you need to man up. Thalente [Mbatha] and I have to step up and do the job for him, because he did it for us against Czechia.”
Adams said the draw with Czechia had lifted the team.
“I am very, very confident that we can get a win against South Korea. The spirit in the team, especially after the draw with Czechia, is very high. We are very confident. The boys are ready. The boys are focused.”
Pictured above: Bafana Bafana staff and players.
Image source: @BafanaBafana
